DHAKA (AsiaNews): On April 19, the eve of World Vocations Day, the Holy Spirit Major Seminary at Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh, celebrated its 50th anniversary. The seminary is the only one in the country and has made a significant contribution to the construction of the local Church. More than 800 individuals, including 250 priests and nine bishops, joined the celebration.
Monsignor Emmanuel Rozario, bishop of Barisal and president of the Episcopal Commission for the seminar, presided over the event. The main guests were Archbishop Kevin Randall, apostolic nuncio to Bangladesh, and Archbishop Bejoy D’Cruze of Dhaka and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh.
The seminary was officially established on 23 August 1973, when the then Vatican representative to Bangladesh, Archbishop Edward Cassidy, celebrated its inaugural Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kakrail, Ramna, in Dhaka.
Over a period of 50 years, a total of 987 students were educated at the seminary. Among them, 445 students were ordained priests, including nine bishops.
Additionally, 83 lay people and 11 nuns received their seminary training there. Throughout these decades, 103 professors directly contributed to the work.
…And you too, students present here, will have to follow the example of the Good Shepherd, bringing upon you the smell of sheep and preparing a synodal Church for yourselves
Cardinal D’Rozario
During the 50th anniversary Mass, the main celebrant, Partick Cardinal D’Rozario, archbishop emeritus of Dhaka, defined the Major Seminary of the Holy Spirit as “a great gift of God’s grace” and “the heart of the Church of Christ of Bangladesh.” Through this institution, Bangladesh is walking as a local Church.
“After being trained here,” Cardinal D’Rozario said, “the priests, men and women religious of Bangladesh are giving a leadership service in the Church. And you too, students present here, will have to follow the example of the Good Shepherd, bringing upon you the smell of sheep and preparing a synodal Church for yourselves.”
Bishop Emmanuel Rozario of Barisal and president of the Episcopal Commission for the seminary, recalled how today, Bangladeshi priests “are shepherding the flock entrusted to them at home but also abroad; others are rendering dedicated service in various ways for the building up of the Body of Christ, the Church. For this reason we glorify and praise the Lord and join our hands to walk and work together with renewed commitment for a better formation of our future priests.”
Archbishop D’Cruze, recalled that when there was no seminary, future priests had to go to West Pakistan or other countries for their training. After the war of liberation, the establishment of the seminary was one of the priorities of the bishops.
For his part, Archbishop Randall emphasised that in a seminary “training is not just about reading books, but also about how to put what you have learned into practice and how to carry out pastoral ministry in the name of the Lord, not in our own. A task that requires an open heart and personal testimony, despite our fragilities.”
Shymol Gomes, a layperson and banker, wanted to publicly express his brotherhood.
“I had the opportunity to study here and even if I didn’t manage to become a priest, I was successful in my family and professional life thanks to the quality training I received here,” he said.
