RSSMYMENSINGH, Bangladesh (UCAN) — Catholic leaders have voiced conflicting opinions over the situation of priest and Religious vocations in Bangladesh.
“The overall vocation situation in the country is not satisfactory. It differs from region to region,” said Holy Cross Brother Stephen Binoy Gomes, president of the Bangladesh Conference of Religious.
“There are fewer vocations from better-off families now-a-days. Family size is becoming more nuclear day-by-day and small families are reluctant to sacrifice their children to a Religious vocation,” added Brother Gomes, who is also provincial of the Holy Cross Brothers in Bangladesh.
“Female vocations have also significantly decreased in recent years,” he noted.
Brother Gomes was speaking to UCA News from the sidelines of the 6th Combined Vocation Exhibition at St. Elizabeth Church in Biroidakuni parish in Mymensingh.
Twenty-nine Religious congregations and a delegation of diocesan clergy participated in vocation fair April 30 – May 2.
Holy Cross Brother Kajol Linus Costa, the event coordinator, told UCA News that vocation exhibitions are a good way to attract young people to Religious life.
Despite attracting a good local response, “Religious vocations are declining in Bangladesh. People are more attracted by materialism and lack a sacrificial mentality,” said the director of Holy Cross Scholasticate for Brothers in Dhaka.
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| A nun answers queries about her congregation at the exhibition |
According to Oblate Father Bijoy Rebeiro, poverty is an important deterrent for youth joining the priesthood.
“Most young people from poor families want to support and look after their parents and so seek what they think are better careers after completion of their studies” the director of the Oblate Juniorate in Dhaka said.
Sister Mary Christina from the Associates of Mary Queen of Apostles told UCA News that vocations to her congregation have notably declined.
“Now-a-days we have fewer vocations. Families are becoming financially well-to-do,” said the nun, who is headmistress of St. Mary’s Girls’ High School in Toomilia parish of Dhaka archdiocese.
But Father Joyonto Raksam, diocesan vocation promoter for Mymensingh, painted a different picture.
“The vocation situation is rather good in the country. There are a good number of tribal candidates in different congregations from Mymensingh and every year we get some new priests, brothers and nuns.”
He said 16 major seminarians were ordained priests in different dioceses from December 2009 to February 2010.
“In the past people used to see foreign missioners as clergy and Religious. Times have changed and now both Bengali and tribals are taking up Religious vocation. We’re very happy and optimistic,” he said.
According to Pratibeshi, Bangladesh’s only Catholic weekly, there are 351 priests in the country among whom 84 are foreigners. The 2007 Catholic Directory of Bangladesh records about 310,000 Catholics, giving a ratio of roughly one priest for every 900 Catholics.
Christians make up less than 1 percent of the country’s almost 150 million people, 88 percent of whom are Muslims.
BA09631/1600 May 5, 2010 49 EM-lines (463 words)
Religious tackle declining vocations
Growing tribal vocations raise cultural issues
Crowds gather to attract young to vocations
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