Young Writers in Bangladesh Rediscover Writing as Mission at National Workshop

The 33rd National Christian Writers’ Workshop, held from March 25 to 28 in Dhaka, brought together young Catholics from across Bangladesh to reflect on writing as both a spiritual vocation and a tool for social transformation.

Hosted at the RNDM Renewal Center in Mohammadpur, the four-day program was organized with the support of the Episcopal Youth Commission and the Christian Communication Center. It carried the theme: “Let the pen be the bearer of the Gospel, let the word be the maker of change.”

Addressing the inaugural session, Fr. Bikash James Rebeiro, secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Youth and national youth coordinator, encouraged participants to recognize their God-given creative gifts. “Every person is a unique writer by the grace of God,” he said, urging them to express their insights through study, reflection, and language. In his homily, he invoked the guidance of the Holy Spirit to “sanctify your imagination and create new ideas and inspiration.”

The second day coincided with Bangladesh’s Independence Day, marked by special prayers and a flag-hoisting ceremony. In a session on the craft of writing, Manik Wilver D’Costa, general secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Students (YMCS), described writing as a synthesis of “aesthetics, philosophy, and research.” Later, Fr. Patrick Simon Gomes, parish priest of Kewachala, reflected on Christian literature and the history of biblical translation, highlighting the contribution of Christians to the development of Bengali language and literature.

On the third day, Auxiliary bishop Subrata B. Gomes of Dhaka, who also serves as  president of the Episcopal Youth Commission, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. In his homily, he urged participants to integrate faith and creativity, encouraging them to “write uncompromisingly for the values of the Bible” under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The workshop concluded with an interactive session led by Fr. Rebeiro and a presentation on Christian songwriting by Protestant composer Liton Adhikari Rintu. During the discussion, journalist and literary figure Bidhan Rebeiro emphasized ethical responsibility in the digital age. “It is your responsibility as a new writer to expose the truth universally, combining your own creativity with spiritual wisdom, while resisting the plagiarism of artificial intelligence,” he said.

Participants said the workshop deepened both their creative and spiritual outlook. Anushka Laurentia Serao from Rajshahi Diocese described writing as a calling rather than a hobby. “I now see my pen as a tool for spreading the Gospel, Christian teachings, moral values, and social change,” she said.

Emmanuel Anind Dias from Chittagong highlighted the sense of community he experienced. “I realized I am not alone, there are many others working toward the same goal,” he said, noting that the workshop exposed him to diverse forms of writing, including poetry, essays, and blogs.

For Shreya Manikhin of Mymensingh, the training instilled a renewed sense of responsibility. “As a Christian writer, it is my duty to express truth and uphold moral values,” she said, adding that the Holy Spirit can transform ordinary words into a source of blessing.

A total of 49 participants, including 46 college and university students from various dioceses and three religious sisters, took part in the workshop, reflecting the growing interest among young Christians in using writing as a means of faith expression and social engagement.