LETTER from BANGLADESH- I am writing this just after our clergy retreat at Oxford Mission, Barisal. After many years, we gathered together at the Oxford Mission (OM) compound for this retreat. For most of us it was wonderful experience. All clergy said both the OM environment and the retreat programme have given them an extraordinary experience for their spiritual growth. The theme was 'The Discipleship of Christ: Under this theme we had three sub-themes for our meditation and reflection:
'We are called to be the Disciples of Christ;
'We are walking with Christ', and
'The cost of Christ's discipleship’.
Some sisters of Christa Sevika Sangha joined us during the retreat. We also invited Mother Susila once for the evening tea followed by a photo session. She was so delighted to meet all the clergy together in the Dining Hall of the Sisters Home. She remembered that, when this dining hall first opened in 1950, she had just joined as a new member of the Sisterhood of Epiphany from India. Today, after 60 years, she has met all the clergy here again and it may be the last. On the last day, Fr Francis invited all the clergy for the evening meal and a variety show produced by the St Michael's boys.
After the retreat, I went directly to the Khulna are a for a pastoral visit as the new Bishop of Dhaka. I started in Kanainagar, then went on to Mongla, Khulna and finished at Jessore. People of these small parishes are always encouraged by the visit of a Bishop. I too was encouraged by their hospitality. They were very cordial and welcomed me to their small churches and homes.
There have been lots of changes in our church in the last few months. I moved to Dhaka from Kushtia at the end of last November and was installed as the Bishop of Dhaka on 04 December at St Thomas' Church, Johnson Road. Bishop Sunil Mankhin moved to Kushtia in the first week of December and his installation as Bishop of Kushtia took place on 11 December. The residence and office of the Bishop of Dhaka and the synod offices have moved to Mirpur from Old Dhaka, as it provides better communication and means our work is more efficient. However, the Cathedral remains in Old Dhaka, and St Andrew's Theological College has moved from Mirpur to that compound. Our Mirpur centre is not ideal for our head office but it is much better than Old Dhaka. We are looking for a new location for CoB Head Office but it is hard to find both suitable and affordable accommodation in Dhaka.
In the first week of January I attended the South Asia Church Leaders consultation on today's mission in Kolkata. Bishop Ashoke Biswas, Bishop of Kolkata, invited me to attend the Epiphany Service on 06 January at OM Behala. I went there and joined the Rededication Service of the Altar of the Chapel, followed by the Epiphany Communion Service. Bishop Brojen Malaker preached at the service. It was a wonderful occasion. I had an opportunity to give greetings to the worshippers, and some came to meet me after the service, especially those who have relatives in Bangladesh.
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I recently attended the 100 Years of Celebration of St Andrew's Mission of Haluaghat Deanery and their 'Baroshabha’. It was a moving experience for many of us who attended the celebration, especially by remembering the devoted lives and works of some great missionaries such as Rev Joynath Chowdhury, Fr Mahendra Chandra Chakravarty, Fr Panja and Sister Chela.
Two groups of people came down from the Garo Hills area of Meghalaya, lndia, to attend this jubilee celebration. An elderly group came from Tura and a younger singing group came from Dalu. The members of the elderly group were so excited to see the places of St Andrew's Mission, where they had spent many years of their early age. The tears came when a Tagore's song was sung, with the words "How you can forget the past days of your life. You can't forget what you have seen and chat from your heart.” They were also thrilled to see four Bishops, Bishop BD MondaI, Bishop MS Baroi, Bishop S Mankhin and myself together at one time, as only rarely are they able to see their own diocesan Bishop of North Eastern Diocese, CNI.
I delivered a message in the communion service on the main theme "to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness:' I mentioned that the celebration came just after Easter and drew a link between these two. Jesus, through his resurrection, gives us a new life. Missionary people like Fr Mahendra and members of his brotherhood dedicated their lives to preach the gospel and witness the risen Christ one hundred years ago in these remote areas. From their sacrifice blossoms a new life to the people of this area. When we thank God for them today, we should be inspired to follow their path to bring a new life to others who are still in the darkness and without life. To do this, we need to transform ourselves and follow the risen Christ, his life and works. Christ should shine through our life and service, and only through that difference will we be able to bring other people to our Lord Jesus Christ.
RT REY PAUL SHISHIR SARKER
Bishop of Dhaka and Moderator