Seated 4th from left is Deacon Bormon, first ordained priest from the Koch tribal community
By Sumon Corraya
Dec 31 2020
The 32-year-old Bormon was baptized in 2002. In Bangladesh there are about 117,000 Koch tribals. Currently, more than a thousand Koch have received Christianity for the great work of the local and Italian PIME missionaries.
DHAKA – Six deacons became priests in the cathedral church of St Mary in Ramna in Dhaka on Dec 30. Among them Biswajit Bernard Bormon who became the first priest of the Koch tribal community of the Kewachala parish in Gazipur.
The 32-year-old Bormon received baptism in 2002. The following year he entered the seminary and gradually realized the beauty of religious life. Most interestingly, on December 4, 2020, his parents received baptism by deacon Bormon.
Fr Bormon told AsiaNews about his faith: “In my childhood, before seeing Fr Dominic Sentu Rozario, I thought that there were no Christians in Bangladesh because I hadn’t seen any before meeting Fr Dominic”. The diocesan priest Fr Dominic began preaching in 1996 with the help of the PIME missionary in Manikganj and in the Gazipur region among non-Christians. The Archdiocese of Dhaka has three regions. These are the cities of Dhaka, Atharogram and the Bhawal region.
Fr Bormon underlined the reason for choosing to become a priest: “When I saw Fr Dominic’s good and kind work, his sacrifice and holy life, he attracted me. So I entered the seminary to become a priest. I have not been able to realize the taste and beauty of the life of the priesthood before then. And this is how I become a priest today “.
“I saw Fr Dominic bring seminarians to our village area for pastoral work. I understood how beautiful the life of seminarians is. They visited the homes on bicycles for service and thoughtful work. They helped others smile. These things helped me to be a priest,” he added.
Fr Bormon reported that he and his older brother received Christianity while they were students in the Church-run school. Their two older sisters are still Hindus.
Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated by him on January 8 in his parish of Kewachala. His Hindu sisters and relatives will also be there.
There are around 117,000 Koch tribals in Bangladesh. Currently, more than a thousand Kochs have received Christianity from the great work of the local and Italian PIME missionaries.
Fr Bormon tells AsiaNews about his feelings after becoming a priest: “Even if I am not suitable, but God chose me from my mother’s womb to be a priest”. He quotes Jeremiah 1: 5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I separated you; I have appointed you a prophet of the nations”, which he used in the souvenir for his priestly ordination.
He recalled that after receiving Christianity, he and his family faced obstacles from the Hindu community. He said “My father was a madbor (leader) in our village. When I received baptism, we faced many social problems. People of the Hindu community mocked us and marginalized us. There were also many temptations and problems I faced when I was in seminary.”
Fr Bormon related the baptism of his parents “Eighteen years ago I received baptism. I wanted all family members to go to church together, and on December 4, my father and mother received baptism from my hands. It was the happiest day of my life. I feel happy because with my baptism I opened the way to my parents’ paradise.” On the same day he also renewed her parents’ marriage according to the Catholic Church.
The Archdiocese of Dhaka has 80,000 Catholics; 2500 of them come from the Manikgonj and Gazipur region. In this area the Christians who received Christianity were Hindus and Muslims, including the community of Koch.
Fr Dominic has been preaching in the Manikgonj and Gazipur region since 1996. He tells AsiaNews that he is very happy for the priestly ordination of deacon Bormon, “Today I am very happy and I cannot express it in any way, seeing Biswajit Bernard Bormon becoming priest! It seems to me that my missionary life is successful.”
Don Dominic explained his style of preaching the gospel. He said: “I follow the method of evangelization through education. I have seen the ignorance of the Koch tribal community and I preach the Good News through education. Gradually the Kochs are becoming educated and receiving Christianity. In this area the Kingdom of God has enormous possibilities of spreading.”
Fr Dominic said that the Italian PIME missionaries also contributed to the priestly ordination of Biswajit Bernard Bormon. “PIME missionaries have worked for the spiritual care of this area. I thank them “. – Asia News
