In the month of December, the Congregation of Holy Cross celebrated the priestly ordinations of three of its members in Bangladesh. Frs. Pronoy Anthony Gomes, C.S.C., and Somir Peter D’Rozario, C.S.C., were ordained on December 27, 2014, and then three days later, Fr. Sumon Peter Costa, C.S.C., was ordained on December 30, 2014.
All three are members of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province (Dhaka, Bangladesh). They were ordained by the Most Rev. Patrick D’Rozario, C.S.C., the Archbishop of Dhaka.
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Frs. Pronoy and Somir were ordained in their home parish in Hashnabadh. The parish, led by its council, had been preparing for over a year for this joyful occasion when two of its own would be ordained. In the nine days leading up to the Ordination, the parish prayed a novena to spiritually prepare for the Mass. The novena culminated the day before the Ordination with “Mongol Ashirbadh," which is a cultural ritual of blessing using turmeric. The ritual began with Adoration in the parish church and then continued with processions to the men's own villages where the celebration took place in their homes.
The Ordination Mass on December 27 began at 9am, and concluded around 11:30am. There was a huge turnout for the Ordination Mass. The Most Rev. Theotonius Gomes, C.S.C., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dhaka; the Most Rev. Michael A. D’Rozario, C.S.C., Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Khulna; the Most Rev. Bijoy Cruze, OMI, Bishop of the Diocese of Sylhet; and Rev. James C. Cruze, C.S.C., the Superior of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, were all in attendance, along with many other Holy Cross priests, brothers, and sisters, as well as religious and priests from other congregations. Following the Mass, there was a short reception and then lunch to continue the celebration.
On December 28, Frs. Pronoy and Somir celebrated together a Mass of Thanksgiving in the parish church, at which Fr. James Shyamol Gomes, C.S.C., preached the homily.
Like Frs. Pronoy and Somir, Fr. Sumon was also ordained in his home parish of St. John the Baptist in Tomilia. The day before his Ordination, a blessing ceremony was held in his home in which many priests, brothers, sisters, seminarians, and lay people participated. Then, on December 30, Fr. Sumon was ordained by Archbishop D'Rozario. Once again Bishops Michael D'Rozario and Bijoy Cruze, as well as Fr. Cruze, were in attendance. All were joined by a large crowd of the lay faithful as well as many religious brothers, sisters, priests, and seminarians.
On the following day, December 31, Fr. Sumon offered a Mass of Thanksgiving in his home parish to cap the festivities.
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Now, following their Ordinations, the three newly ordained will all begin their priestly ministry and service in the Church working in parishes. Fr. Pronoy will be assisting Fr. Parimal Pereira, C.S.C., in St. Augustine's Church at Mothbari, Kaligonj, in the Archdiocese of Dhaka. Fr. Somir, who is the first priest from the village of Nayansree in 50 years, will be assisting Fr. Robert Gomes, C.S.C., in the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary at Bolipara, Bandarban, in the Diocese of Chittagong. Fr. Sumon will be working in Srimongol Parish in the Diocese of Sylhet.