The Diocese of Rajshahi in Bangladesh celebrated the 120th year establishment of the Parish of its founding with great solemnity and joy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Andharkota on November 28.
The theme chosen for this milestone celebration was “Gratitude and Thanksgiving in Communion.” Present at the event were Bishop Gervas Rozario, Parish Priest Premu T. Rozario, along with 24 Priests, 2 Brothers, 25 Sisters, 14 Seminarians, and Dr. Arok Toppo, Regional Director of Caritas Rajshahi Region.
In addition, around six hundred Catholic faithful from various villages of the parish participated in the celebration. On the eve of the anniversary, the parishioners prepared themselves spiritually through Eucharistic Adoration.
The anniversary Mass was presided over by Bishop Gervas Rozario, with the concelebration of the other priests.
In his homily, Bishop Rozario said, “One hundred and twenty years ago, the PIME missionaries sowed the seeds of Christian faith in this region. Andharkotha Parish is considered the mother parish of almost all the parishes of Rajshahi; therefore, it is rightly called the ‘Mother Parish.”
The bishop further added, “Celebrating the 120th anniversary during the Jubilee Year strengthens us spiritually and prepares us to celebrate the 125-year Jubilee of the parish. This year, we also celebrate the Jubilee of 2025 years since the birth of Jesus Christ. And our late Holy Father Pope Francis has chosen the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’”
He continued, “In this world, we are all pilgrims of hope journeying toward heaven. We may have many hopes in life, but reaching heaven is our ultimate goal. If we fail to reach heaven, we must remember Jesus’ words: ‘What profit is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul?’ Therefore, I urge the faithful of Andharkotha Parish to reflect on their lives and move forward firmly in the Christian faith.”
Following the Mass, a commemorative plaque marking 120 years was unveiled, along with a memory-sharing session. During this time, Father Carlo Buzzi, PIME, recalled, “The
contribution of the PIME Fathers in spreading the Gospel in North Bengal is unforgettable. In the early days, the PIME Fathers and the Sisters of Maria Bambina worked tirelessly to spread the
Gospel in this region. Many of them died from various illnesses. We gratefully remember the 26 Maria Bambina Sisters and 10 PIME Fathers who passed away in those early years.”
Parish Priest Father Premu Rozario said, “The soil of Andharkotha Parish is sacred because it is here that the martyr Father Angela Mazzini shed his blood, and many other priests also died. I
extend heartfelt thanks to all who contributed in various ways to make this celebration meaningful and successful.”
Speratus Biswas, a parishioner of Andharkotha, expressed his joy, saying, “I am extremely happy on this 120th anniversary because it was here that Christianity first took root in North
Bengal. From here many parishes and institutions were established, and today they continue to flourish in their respective places.”
Dr. Arok Toppo, Regional Director of Caritas Rajshahi, said, “We at Caritas Rajshahi are delighted because it was from this parish that Caritas first began its journey. On this special day,
we pray for the continued growth and prosperity of this parish.”
It is noteworthy that this 120-year milestone is truly a great blessing from God. The PIME missionary priests from Italy first baptized the indigenous Paharia community in Andharkotha
and established the parish here in 1904.
The celebration concluded with a cultural program and a heartfelt expression of gratitude and thanksgiving in communion.
