A growing Church in Bangladesh: Dioceses doubled in 20 years

Diocese of Barisal was inaugurated in the Archdiocese of Dhaka, Bangladesh which has doubled the number of dioceses in the country in 20 years. 

We inaugurate "the new diocese giving priority to service not only to Catholics, but to other believers as well,  to bring them the testimony of Christ." With these words, Msgr. Lawrence Subroto the first bishop of the diocese inaugurated the new diocese of Barisal. The inaugural celebration took place  in Udayan High School, in the presence of 25 thousand faithful, two Archbishops, six Bishops and 200 priests from all over Bangladesh. This is the seventh diocese in the country, in the Archdiocese  of Dhaka.

The Diocese, said the Bishop, "has 16 thousand Catholics in an area inhabited by 15 million non-Christians, who serve with attention and love. The diocese has three high schools, six clinics and different  social activities. "

The bishop so far was the  Auxiliary Bishop of Chittagong - Barisal diocese which now bifurcated  - and is a native of Barisal, 123 kilometers south of Dhaka.  He thanked the priests, nuns, religious brothers and catechists who nurtured the  faith of Catholics in that area and so a new diocese is formed he said.

Pope Francis established the diocese of Barisal on December 29, 2015. With this the  country now has seven dioceses and Archdiocese. Barisal will border Chittagong and the diocese Khulna to the west. The Church of St. Peter in Barisal will be its cathedral and St. Peter the Apostle will be its patron saint.   Out of a population of 161 million people, Bangladesh Catholics represent a minority of only 0.1%, against 89.5% of Muslims and 9.6% of Hindus.