Pope Francis has erected the new Diocese of Barisal in Bangladesh appointing Bishop Lawrence Subroto Howlader, former auxiliary of Chittagong, as the diocese’s first bishop, Vatican Radio reported.
Barisal will be bordered in the east by Chittagong, from which its territory comes from, and in the west by the Diocese of Khulna.
The new diocese has five parishes staffed by 13 diocesan priests, six religious priests, four religious men, 29 religious women and three major seminarians, Vatican Radio said.
The new diocese will serve a Catholic community of about 16,900 people.
Bishop-designate Subroto Howlader was born in Nobogram, Barisal. He joined the Holy Cross Congregation in 1987, professing first vows in 1988 and final vows in 1993. He was ordained in 1994. In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI appointed him auxiliary bishop of Chittagong Diocese.