There was great cause for celebration in northwestern Dinajpur diocese recently when the first tribal Santal Catholic was ordained to a missionary congregation.

Holy Cross Bishop Moses M. Costa of Chittagong ordained Lucas Marandy, 36, as confrere to the Society of St Francis Xavier for Foreign Missions (SX) at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Khalippur on September 9.

Father Marandy’s first posting will take him to Brazil.

“Jesus washed the feet of His disciples as a sign of love. I will try to keep this example of love in mind every day and follow it,” a beaming Father Marandy said after the ordination ceremony.

The ordination represented a milestone after a century of Catholicism in the area for local diocese officials.

“This is a historic event for the Santal community. What we couldn’t achieve, Lucas has made possible,” said Father Joseph Marandy, 63, administrator of the diocese.

The senior priest hoped the new missioner will become a reason for joy for people living where he will be serving like he is for the people in the diocese.

Father Samson Marandy, 56, another senior priest questioned why it took so long for the diocese and community to produce a missioner.

“Foreign missioners evangelized and served among tribals for hundreds of years. They always encouraged local [diocesan] vocations to strengthen the local Church. Moreover, few Catholics knew about other missionary congregations except those working in the diocese,” the priest said.

“Fr Lucas Marandy will become our diocese’s pioneer in missionary work,” he added.