On January, 20, 2017, the Feast Day of the Congregation’s Founder, Blessed Basile Moreau, Br. Manuel Chandan Gomes, C.S.C., a member of the St. Joseph Province (Dhaka, Bangladesh), made his Final Profession of Vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross.

Br. Bijoy Rodrigues, C.S.C., Superior of the St. Joseph Province, received Br. Chandon’s perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in a ceremony held in St. Francis Xavier Church, Golla. The Most Rev. Subrato Lawrence Howlader, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Barisal, presided at the Mass.

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While all Final Professions are a joyous occasion, there was a unique joy in how this celebration of Final Vows harmonized with other celebrations in the parish that same day.

"The ceremony took place in the home parish of Br. Chandan Manuel Gomes, C.S.C.,” explained Br. Bijoy. “On the same day there were four weddings in the same church and many people were present for the weddings and a lot of them remained to witness the Final Profession ceremony, as well.

“Added to this was the presence of more than 40 CSC religious brothers, fathers, and sisters,” he continued. “This was the greatest opportunity for us members of the Holy Cross family to be more visible to the faithful and to some extent increase their interest in the final self-giving of a young man from their own parish.”

Following his Final Profession, Br. Chandon will continue teaching at Mariam Ashram High School in Diang, Chittagong.