Last month, on Thursday, April 16, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province (Dhaka, Bangladesh) celebrated the Final Professions of three of its men. Fr. James Clement Cruze, C.S.C., the Superior of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, received the men’s vows according to the Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross in a Mass held at the Chapel of the Holy Cross Scholasticate in Rampura, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The three men who professed their Final Vows were: Mr. Ashish Aloysius Rozario, C.S.C., the second son of Mr. Sunil Joseph Rozario and Mrs. Smriti Brizita Rozario from Mirpur Parish in Dhaka; Mr. Paschal Babu Sarker, C.S.C., the seventh son of (the late) Mr. Jagadish Chandro Sarker and Mrs. Monica Sarker from Ruhia Parish in Village-Ruhia, Dinajpur; and Mr. Joseph Bagnar Gonsalvez, C.S.C., the eldest son of Mr. William Romeo Gonsalvez and Mrs. Marie Gonsalvez from Noakhali Parish in Village-West Bodaripur, Chittagong.
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For the Final Vows Mass, there were four bishops present: the Most Rev. Patrick D’ Rozario, C.S.C., Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dhaka Archdiocese, the Most Rev. George Kocherry, Apostolic Nuncio to Banglades; the Most Rev. Theotonies Gomes, C.S.C., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Archdiocese of Dhaka; and the Most Rev. Michael Atul D’ Rozario, C.S.C., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Khulna. There were also almost 70 priests, 15 sisters, 20 brothers, and 250 seminarians and aspirants, as well as many lay people, who joined in the auspicious occasion.
At the same time that it rejoiced in the Final Vows of these three men, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province also celebrated the Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees of members of the Province. Those celebrating 25 years of religious vows were Fr. Shanker Leonard Rozario, C.S.C., and Fr. Sushanto Anthony Gomes, C.S.C. Bishop Gomes, and Fr. Gilbert Lague, C.S.C., rejoiced in 50 years of religious life. Fr. Eugene Homrich, C.S.C., marked 60 years of priesthood. They were all recognized in the same Mass, after which there was a reception and cultural program, followed by dinner.
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Two days later, on Saturday, April 18, the three newly finally professed—Mr. Ashish Aloysius Rozario, C.S.C., Mr. Paschal Babu Sarker, C.S.C., and Mr. Joseph Bagnar Gonsalvez, C.S.C.—were ordained deacons by Bishop Gomes.
As with the Final Vows celebration, the Ordination Mass was held at the Chapel of the Holy Cross Scholasticate in Rampura and drew a large crowd, including almost 50 priests, 10 sisters, 20 brothers, and 200 seminarians and aspirants, as well as many lay people. In addition to Bishop Gomes, three other bishops were present: Bishop Atul D’Rozario; the Most Rev. Subrato Lawrence Howlader, C.S.C., Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Chittagong, and the Most Rev. Sebastian Tudu, Bishop of the Diocese of Dinajpur.
Special thanks to Fr. Proshanto Cruze, C.S.C., for assisting with this article.