LETTER from St Paul’s Brotherhood, BARISAL - Dear All, we have with us here in Barisal Brother John Halder, who joined the Brotherhood on 01 June 2009 with prayers and the blessing of the Moderator and Visitor and the Dean of Jobarpar deanery. He became a postulant in September of the same year, and since the beginning of January this year has been looking after St Michael's hostel.
Between 21 and 25 March, the first ever retreat of Bishops, Priests and Deacons of the Church of Bangladesh (CoB) was conducted at the Oxford Mission in Barisal in a very befitting manner. Nine Noviciate Brothers of the Roman Catholic Church and the Novice master, Fr A M Palma, CSC, joined us and spent two whole days (from 9.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.) sharing our prayers, meditation exercises, life, work and teaching, together with the CSS Sisters. It was a wonderful gathering, sharing and enjoying everything, and the CSS Sisters took on a great share of the responsibilities of the organisation. Indeed, it was a really unique experience for the Noviciate Brothers and also for the Catholic Fathers to share with the Oxford Mission their family lifestyle and vocation (one of the main objectives planned for the Noviciates by Fr Palma).
Our beautiful church and compound attracted them, and even Fr Palma said the mass in our church, with all the Fathers, Sisters and Brothers attending the same Holy Communion. This fascination with the Oxford Mission led Fr Palma to CSS Jobarpar, where he stayed for one day just after Easter (he said that Jobarpar is like the garden of Gethsemane).
We thank God that the churches of Barisal have been the pioneers of the 'Joint Church Movement' in Bangladesh for the last 60 years, and now all the churches in the southern part of Bangladesh are following our example, which provides a common platform for the Christian voice, unity and harmony in a country like ours.
We thank you, all the members of the committee and patrons, all the time with regular prayers.
Wishing you all a happy Easter.
Father Francis
St Paul's Brotherhood, Barisal