Bangladesh’s Tripura Community Welcomes First Priest from Bolipara Parish

The Catholic community in Bolipara, in Bangladesh’s southeastern Bandarban Hill District, celebrated the ordination of its first priest from the Tripura community on November 6, marking a milestone for the local Church and the indigenous community.

Deacon Sadhumoni Francis Tripura was ordained at the Presentation of the Virgin Mary Church in Bolipara during a Mass presided over by Archbishop Lawrence Subrato Hawlader, CSC, of the Archdiocese of Chattogram.

Priests, religious sisters and brothers, and faithful from various parishes and dioceses attended the ordination.

In his homily, Archbishop Hawlader said that God's call to priesthood comes from divine love rather than an individual's qualifications or abilities.

“Throughout the ages, God has called certain individuals for His mission. He does not call them because of their special qualifications, skills, or abilities, but because He loves them,” he said.

The archbishop added that the newly ordained priest would proclaim Christ's message and contribute to the expansion of God's Kingdom through his ministry.

The ordination was preceded by a welcoming ceremony and Eucharistic adoration at the parish on November 5, as the community gathered in prayer and blessing for the deacon.

Maria Tripura, a participant in the celebration, described the ordination as a historic moment for the Tripura community in Bandarban Hill District, saying it marked both the beginning of a new priestly journey and a milestone in the community's religious history.

The newly ordained priest, born on December 20, 1996, is the son of the late Dharmocharan Tripura and Saijuma Tripura.

Following his ordination, Fr. Sadhumoni Francis Tripura expressed gratitude to those who had supported his vocation and formation.

“I am forever grateful to all those who have helped me reach this stage of my priestly journey. May God grant me the strength and courage necessary to walk faithfully in His path,” he said.

Fr. Shital H. Rozario, CSC, parish priest of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary Church, described the ordination as a special blessing for the parish. He thanked the young people, children, and parishioners who worked to organize the celebration.

He also expressed hope that the new priest's ministry would bear fruit through religious faith, human values, and dedicated service to others.

For the Tripura community, whose presence is part of the diverse indigenous population of the Chittagong Hill Tracts in southeastern Bangladesh, the ordination represents a significant moment in its Catholic history and an inspiration for younger generations considering religious vocations.