The Catholic Church in northwestern Rajshahi diocese yesterday ordained its first priest from the tribal Paharia community after more than a century of evangelism among them. Bishop Gervas Rozario of Rajshahi presided over the ordination of Manik William Biswas, 37, to the missionary congregation of the Franciscan Friars, along with confrere Nikhil Martin Ghorami. About 5,000 people, including 30 priests and 26 nuns, attended the ordination at Good Shepherd Cathedral parish in Rajshahi, about 300 kilometers outside Dhaka. Bishop Rozario called the ordination of the first Paharia priest a milestone. "I thank God for this graceful ceremony and hope it will lead the faithful to better days of unity and brotherhood,” he said during the event. Newly ordained Fr Biswas told attendees that he was happy to have overcome many challenges to reach the priesthood. “I had to go through both ethnic and community struggles. Many students entered priestly formation life before me, but all of them left before the end. My community also thought that I would fail them.” Fr Biswas said he was only able to reach his goal with support from his family and society. “Not everyone in society was positive, but some of them extended their support with counseling, prayer and blessing. I thank them all.” The origin of the Paharia community in Bangladesh dates back to the British colonial era, during which they were brought to the East Bengal as migrant workers from various Indian states. The community first embraced Christianity in 1904, largely because of the work of Italian priest Father Tabezzio from the Pontifical Institute of Foreign Missions. About 70 percent of the nearly 10,000-strong Paharia community, which continues to struggle with poverty and limited access to education, have converted to Catholicism. Some in the community say that Fr Biswas’s ordination could lead to a resurgence for its struggling families. “We are happy to offer our son for God’s vineyard today after years of dreaming. We hope the new priest will boost our faith and life. The Church and the community can look forward to better days ahead,” said Julian Biswas (no relation), a Paharia tribal leader.
