Dhaka Archdiocese Kicks Off Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

On April 21, the Archdiocese of Dhaka in Bangladesh formally launched its Diamond Jubilee celebrations, marking 75 years since its elevation to a metropolitan archdiocese, with a solemn mass and festive program at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Dharmapalli, north of Old Dhaka.

Around 400 faithful participated in the celebration, including 75 priests, religious men and women, and lay leaders from different parishes of the archdiocese.

Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI, archbishop of Dhaka and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh, unveiled the official Diamond Jubilee logo and formally declared the beginning of the jubilee celebrations.

In his homily, the archbishop highlighted the spiritual heritage of the archdiocese. “This great archdiocese has received many graces from God. It carries a rich beauty of faith, tradition, and the generosity of the faithful. Through this, people grow deeper in faith and are able to share it with others,” he said.

Recalling sacrifices made in the past, the archbishop noted that faith in Dhaka had grown amid trials. “There have been many sacrifices in this archdiocese. As early as 1632, a priest in Narinda, Dhaka, gave his life at the hands of extremists. We remember with deep respect all those who shed their blood and offered their lives for the Church,” he said.

Calling for unity, Archbishop D’Cruze urged Catholics to live the spirit of synodality. “The synodal Church calls us to communion, participation, and mission. A parish is not a private club. It must be a school of generosity and service, open to all and free from unnecessary bureaucracy,” he said. He also acknowledged internal challenges and appealed for cooperation to overcome divisions within the Christian community.

Peter Corraya, a lay participant, told RVA News that the celebration deepened his sense of responsibility. “I realized how much labor, sacrifice, and dedication went into building this archdiocese. We must now carry it forward by witnessing to our faith in daily life,” he said.

Currently, the Archdiocese of Dhaka serves about 81,000 Catholics in 27 parishes and runs one university, nine colleges, 18 high schools, 35 primary schools, one hospital, and 16 dispensaries or health centers, with the service of 24 religious congregations.

Senior priest Fr. Theotonius Proshanto Rebeiro briefly presented the archdiocese’s historical journey, recalling that Portuguese traders first brought Christianity to Bengal and that various missionaries nurtured the faith over the centuries. “We express our gratitude to all who planted, nurtured, and sustained this faith,” he said.

The celebration concluded with cultural performances by members of the Dhaka Archdiocesan Youth Commission and seminarians from Ramna Seminary. Cardinals, bishops, and Fr. David Gomez, parish priest of St. Mary’s Cathedral, released balloons as a sign of joy and hope, followed by a symbolic procession representing the archdiocese’s journey of faith.

Through education, healthcare, evangelization, and social development, the Archdiocese of Dhaka continues its mission of service, carrying forward the light of faith into the future.

The Catholic presence in the territory of today’s Dhaka Archdiocese dates to the late 16th century, with early communities in Hussainpur and Shripur. Mission stations were placed under the Diocese of Mylapore in 1606, and Augustinian churches were built in Tejgaon and Nagori. The Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Bengal was formed in 1852 and entrusted to the Congregation of Holy Cross. Dhaka became a diocese in 1886 and an archdiocese in 1950. Since then, it has been led by both foreign and Bangladeshi archbishops, continuing its pastoral mission amid changing ecclesiastical boundaries.