Pope Francis On Arrival Receives A Cordial Welcome in Bangladesh

Pope Francis' First Day in Bangladesh

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid officially receives Pope Francis at the Dhaka Airport (Nov. 30, 2017)

Photo courtesy: Reuters

(L-R) Bangladesh and Vatican flags furl on a roadside in Dhaka (Nov. 30, 2017)   

Photo courtesy: AFP

On his arrival in Dhaka, Pope Francis, as head of the Vatican State, was given a red-carpet welcome, including a guard of honour, by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid. Delegations of political and religious authorities, and a groups of children, with their flowers, singing and dancing, were also there. 

Later, praising Bangladesh's efforts in helping the hapless Rohingya refugees within its borders, the Pope also took the opportunity to earnestly appeal to the international communities to extend their hands as much as possible. 

To know more on Pope's visit, please see the following:

• Pope Francis accorded red carpet reception (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis accorded red carpet reception (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis arrives in Dhaka, accorded rousing reception (Nov. 30,2017)
• Pope Francis in Dhaka (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis arrives in Bangladesh (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope lands in Bangladesh with Rohingya crisis looming large (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope Francis lands in Bangladesh after contentious Myanmar visit (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope in Bangladesh: Francis arrives in Dhaka after  contentious Myanmar visit (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope speech to authorities and diplomatic corps in Dhaka [Full Text] (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope in Dhaka: World must assist Bangladesh in tackling refugee crisis (Nov. 30, 2017)
• The Latest: Pope demands world help resolve Rohingya crisis (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope demands 'decisive measures' to resolve Rohingya exodus (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Pope thanks Bangladesh on Rohingya refugees from Myanmar (Nov. 30, 2017)
• Bangladesh priest disappearance casts pall over Pope Francis visit (Nov. 30, 2017)
• In Bangladesh, Pope Francis will encounter 'natural and man-made' disasters (Nov. 29, 2017)
• Pope to meet 15 Rohingyas during his Bangladesh trip (Nov. 29, 2017)
• Pope Francis in Bangladesh (Official website of Bangladesh Catholic Church)

(Continued)

Before Pope's Visit, A Catholic Priest Goes Missing, Ransom Demanded

 Father Walter William Rozario 

Photo courtesy: www.dailystar.net/

Father Walter William Rozario, 40, an assistant priest of Borni Catholic Church of Natore District  goes missing in the middle of his hectic preparation for bringing his 300-member Catholic group to Dhaka for the visit of Pope Francis on November 30. His younger brother reported to the local police that the miscreants demanded Tk. 300,000 (US. $3,618) for his release.

Local police chief told AFP, "He has been missing since late Monday [Nov. 27]. His mobile [cellphone] has been switched off." Gervas Rozario, Bishop of Rajshahi Diocese, believe that the priest has been kidnapped and Catholics in the region were deeply worried. The police are engaged in a vigorous search for Fr. Rozario. 

Islamic militants in the recent past were active in the region kidnapping, shooting, and killing people of minority communities. Father Walter Rozario hails from Borni Catholic village, where a local Catholic grocer, Sunil Gomes was mercilessly hacked to death in June, 2016. 

For more on Father Walter William Rozario, please read the following:

• Assistant Catholic priest in Natore goes missing (Nov. 28, 2017)
• Ahead of pope's visit, a priest goes missing in Bangladesh (Nov. 29, 2017)
• Natore priest missing: Miscreants 'demand Tk. 3 lakh ransom' (Nov. 29, 2017)
• Catholic priest disappears in Bangladesh before Pope visit (Nov. 29, 2017)

News Update: Father Walter William Rozario Has Been Found

• Missing Catholic priest found in Sylhet (Dec. 1, 2017)
• Priest missing from Natore rescued in Sylhet (Dec. 2, 2017)
• Natore priest goes missing: A case of abduction or self-disappearance? (Dec. 2, 2017)
• Natore priest went into hiding willingly: police (Dec. 2, 2017)
• Natore priest went into hiding, not kidnapped, police say (Dec. 3, 2017)
• Abducted Bangladeshi priest freed (Dec. 3, 2017)
• Bishop and police bicker over priest 'abduction' (Dec. 4, 2017)

New Twist in the Disappearance of Father Walter William Rozario: He Fled in Face of Accusations of Sexual Misconduct 

• Bangladeshi priest accused of sexual relations with women and girl (Despite police finding that Father Walter Rozario had sex with women and an underage girl, the church has taken no action) (June 13, 2018)
• Bishop opens inquiry into Bangladeshi priest sex claims (Father Walter Rozario removed from post of acting headmaster of Church-run school in Natore district following allegations) (June 14, 2018)
• Accusations against Bangladeshi priest highlights problems of abuse [in Catholic Church in Bangladesh] (June 14, 2018)
• Bangladesh wake-up call on sexual abuse for Asia's bishops (The case of Father Walter Rozario bears all the hallmarks of denial, cover-up and silencing victims seen in the west) (June 14, 2018)

(Updated on Dec. 2 and 4, 2017)
(Updated on June 15, 2018)

The Quotation of the Week (November 26 - December 2, 2017)

A quotation of Justin Trudeau on 'freedom,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (A plaque at Port Carling, Ontario, Canada: September 3, 2017) Photo © Jerome D'Costa

Pope Francis' Visit to Bangladesh: Salt+Light TV Interview of Jerome D'Costa

(L-R): Deacon Pedro of the Salt+Light TV, interviewing Jerome D'Costa in view of coming visit of Pope Francis to Bangladesh on November 30 - December 2, 2017

Image courtesy: www.saltandlighttv.org/

On the Weekly Edition of Perspectives, Deacon Pedro, English-language producer, speaks with Jerome D'Costa, a Bangladeshi-Canadian communicator, blogger, and writer, who used to work with Caritas Bangladesh (1973 - 1975), the Pratibeshi -- a Bengali-language national Catholic weekly of the Catholic Bishops of Bangladesh (1977 - 1983), and World Vision of Bangladesh (1984 - 1997). 

This interview was first telecast on Friday, November 24, evening and it will be re-telecast on Sunday, November 26, evening. 

To view this Salt+light TV programme online, you may click on the following:

• Perspectives Weekly: How Does a Papal Visit Change a Host Country?

Pope Francis and Bangladesh

Pope Francis elevates Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario of Bangladesh to the cardinalate in the Vatican (November 19, 2016)

Photo courtesy: www.tkayala.com/

Pope Francis greets Cardinal-designate Patrick D'Rozario of Bangladesh in the Vatican  

Photo courtesy: www.asianews.it/

Another 'November Pope' (called so as three Catholic popes visiting Bangladesh so far came in November) is coming to Bangladesh. He is Pope Francis. He is coming on a three-day state and apostolic visit to Bangladesh on November 30 bringing the message of hope, love, harmony, and peace. He will be the third pope to grace the land of Bangladesh. The second pope to visit Bangladesh was Pope John Paul II on November 19 - 20, 1986. His message to  all Catholics of Bangladesh was to be more faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ and work for better communion and brotherhood among themselves and also with members of other faiths. Bangladesh Catholic Church had given him a rousing welcome. The  first pope, Pope Paul VI, to set foot to Bangladesh (at that time it was known as East Pakistan) was on November 27, 1970. He had stopped for a few hours as a short stopover on his way to Manila, the Philippines, to express his love and sympathy for the terrible November 12 cyclone victims in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. He also made a donation towards relief and rehabilitation work among those victims. 

Pope Francis, originally from Argentina of South American continent, was elected Pope of the Catholic Church in the Vatican on March 13, 2013. From next month onward, his attention fell on Bangladesh, too. He first spoke on the garment factory collapse at Savar and next he gave public statement on the terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka, he also spoke in support of the Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh, later he named and elevated Dhaka's archbishop Patrick D'Rozario to the cardinalate, and now he is to visit Bangladesh next week. His association with Bangladesh is noteworthy. 

Being from a third-world country of Argentina, Pope Francis easily understands peoples and situations in countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar. He will be the right person to encourage, inspire, and boost the the hopes and aspirations of the people. His motto for Bangladesh visit is "harmony and peace." He knows that harmony and peace are so necessary in a country where people belong to different culture and religions. On November 21, he expressed his eagerness to meet with Catholic and other inter-religious leaders. "I want to meet the entire people. In a special way, I cannot wait to meet the religious leaders in Ramna Park" [Suhrawarthy Uddyan] in Dhaka. 

Bangladesh Government and the Catholic Church are ready to receive Pope Francis with cordiality and open arms. They are ready to hear him and interact with him on different issues. His advent to Bangladesh will act as a source of inspiration and encouragement for greater harmony and peace among peoples of different religions and culture. 

Pope Francis, on his arrival in Dhaka at 3:00 p.m., on Thursday, November 30, will lay wreaths and pay homage in the National Martyrs' Memorial [to those who were killed in 1971 Liberation War] and Bangabandhu Memorial [to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation]. He will also meet with country's president Abdul Hamid and government and civic dignitaries and members of foreign diplomatic corps. On Friday, December 1, he is offer solemn morning Mass at the Suhrawardy Uddyan for about 100,000 Christians and he will ordain 16 local deacons to priesthood. In the afternoon, he will meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy), visit St. Mary's Cathedral at Ramna, speak to the nine bishops of Bangladesh, and, finally, join the leaders in an inter-religious and ecumenical meeting for peace in the open space at the Archbishop's House. A small group of Rohingya refugees will also be present in this meeting. On the final day, Saturday, December 2, in the mid-morning, he will privately visit Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity house at Tejgaon, meet with priests, Brothers, Sisters, seminarians and novices at the Holy Rosary Church, visit the parish cemetery and historic church (old one), meet with young people at Notre Dame College, and go to the Dhaka International Airport for the farewell ceremony. At 5:05 p.m. his plane leaves for Rome. 

To know more on Pope Francis and Bangladesh, you may click on the following: 

• Pope Francis in Bangladesh 2017 (Official website of the Bangladesh Catholic Church on the papal visit)
• Pope stresses workers’ dignity after Bangladesh factory collapse [garment factory at Savar] (April 28, 2013)
• Bangladesh factory collapse: Pope condemns 'slave labour' conditions (May 1, 2017)
• Bangladesh attack an offense against God,humanity, Pope Francis says [terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka] (July 2, 2016)
• Pope Francis condemns Bangladesh attack as 'barbarous act' (July 2, 2016)
• Pope prays for victims of recent attacks inBaghdad and Dhaka (July 3, 2016)
• Pope Francis prays for victims, families of Dhaka and Baghdad attacks (July 3, 2016)
• Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario Named a Cardinal by Pope Francis (October 10, 2016)
• Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario, CSC, named a Cardinal, the First for Bangladesh (October 11, 2016)
• Pope Francis to Create 17 New Cardinals at November Consistory (October 9, 2016)
• Pope creates 17 new ‘progressive’ cardinals (November 19, 2016)
• Pope elevates His Eminence Patrick D'Rozario as 1st Bangladeshi Cardinal (November 19, 2016)
• Pope Francis Elevates Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario to Cardinalate (November 20, 2016)
• For Bangladesh's new cardinal, papal visit will boost faith (November 19, 2016)
• Pope Francis defends right of Burma's Rohingya Muslims to 'live their faith' (February 8, 2017)
• Pope Prays for Rohingya Muslims (February 9, 2017)
• Pope condemns Myanmar's treatment of 'peaceful' Rohingya refugees (February 9, 2017)
• Pope Francis issues stinging rebuke of Myanmar over atrocities against Rohingya Muslims (February 9, 2017)
• Pope meets families of victims from deadly Bangladesh attack [some family members of Italian victims of terrorist attack in Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in Dhaka] (February 22, 2017)
• Pope Francis: appeal for end to violence against Rohingya (August 27, 2017)
• Pope Francis meets family members of Dhaka terror attack victims (February 24, 2017)
• It’s official: Pope Francis to visit Myanmar, Bangladesh in November (August 28, 2017)
• Pope Francis to Visit Myanmar, Bangladesh in November (August 28, 2017)
• Vatican releases logos for Pope Francisvisit to Bangladesh, Myanmar (August 28, 2017)
• Vatican Announces Papal Visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh (August 28, 2017)
• Pope Francis to visit Bangladesh and Myanmar in November (August 28, 2017)
• Pope to visit Bangladesh and Myanmar later this year (August 28, 2017)
• Cardinal D’Rozario: The Pope’s visit to Dhaka, a confirmation of inter-religious harmony (August 28, 2017) [video included]
• Cardinal D'Rozario: The Pope wants the world to know about Bangladesh (September 26, 2017)
• Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh have faint hopes about pope's visit (October 3, 2017)
• Pope's visit to Bangladesh, "a pilgrimage to the soul of the people" -- Cardinal D'Rozario (October 7, 2017)
• Schedule of Pope Francis’ apostolic visit to Myanmar, Bangladesh (October 10, 2017)
• Vatican releases pope's schedule for visit to Myanmar, Bangladesh (October 10, 2017)
• Longing for peace: Pope to preach dialogue in Bangladesh, Myanmar (November 15, 2017)
• Pope Francis sends video message to the people of Bangladesh (November 21, 2017) [video included]
• Pope Francis’ Video Message to Bangladesh (November 21, 2017) [video included]
• Pope eager to meet Catholic inter-religious leaders in Bangladesh (November 21, 2017)
• Before Bangladesh trip, Pope calls for inter-religious dialogue (November 21, 2017)
• Pope Francis’ message to Bangladesh (November 21, 2017)
• Pope Francis releases video message forpeople of Bangladesh (November 21, 2017) [video included]
• Bangladesh Church preparing for Pope’s visit – Cardinal D’Rozario Bangladesh Church preparing for Pope's visit -- Cardinal D'Rozario(November 22, 2017)
• Bangladesh religious leaders have high hopes for pope's visit (November 22, 2017)
• Pope Francis to meet Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh (November 22, 2017)
• Bangladesh Cardinal says Pope Francis will bring message of dialogue and harmony (November 23, 2017)
• Cardinal Parolin: Pope's visit to Myanmar, Bangladesh 'to encourage Christians' (November 24, 2017)
• Asie du Sud -- Bangladesh (November 15, 2017) [A French-language article on the Catholic Church in Bangladesh in view of the visit of Pope Francis to Bangladesh]
• Perspectives Weekly - How Does a Papal Visit Change a Host Country? Perspective Weekly - How Does a Papal Visit Change a Host Country?(Deacon Pedro interviews Jerome D'Costa on the Salt and Light TV in view of the visit of Pope Francis to Bangladesh) (November, 2017)
  
  

Five Finger Prayer of Pope Francis

Pope Francis' Five Finger Prayer

Image courtesy: www.pinterest.com/

Pope Francis' Five-Finger Prayer

Image courtesy: www.catholicmommyblogs.com/

We provide above two different quick tips for prayer based on our five fingers. Some say Pope Francis, before becoming a pope, introduced this method, but there's no confirmation of this fact yet. Whatever it is, these tips are helpful for our daily prayers. Children can easily follow these tips in making up their prayers.

The Quotation of the Week (November 19 - 25, 2017)

A quotation of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on 'economy, compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo (Port Carling , Muskoka Lakes area, Ontario: Sept. 3, 2017) © Jerome D'Costa

SALT+LIGHT Magazine: A Publication of Toronto

SALT+LIGHT Magazine -- an occasional publication from Toronto

Published seasonally by Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, this illustrated Catholic magazine provides news, features, articles and opinions on important Catholic Church and papal events and teaching, Catholic personalities and saints, Salt+Light TV programmes and initiatives, and more.  

It aims to be one of the instruments of the New Evangelization, earlier proposed by late Pope John Paul II. It is "dedicated to being -- and helping others become -- the salt of the earth and the light of the world." Its "mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ and the joy of the Gospel to the world by telling stories of hope that bring people closer to Christ and the Catholic faith."

Email contact: info@saltandlighttv.org/

It's also available online in English from Toronto at: SALT+LIGHT Magazine

It's also available online in French from Montreal at: Sel+Lumiere

The Quotation of the Week (November 12 - 18, 2017)

A quotation of Charles William Eliot on 'books,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Photo © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (November 5 - 11, 2017)

A quotation of Winston Churchill on 'future,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Artwork © Jerome D'Costa

DHABOMAN: A Publication of Toronto

Dhaboman -- a bilingual quarterly -- from Toronto

It's a bilingual (Bengali and English language) quarterly literary magazine, published by former Bangladeshi Cadets in Canada. It presents opinions, reminiscences, essays, short and long stories, poems, travel experiences, anecdotes, humor, and more. 

Email contact: info@dhaboman.com

It's also available online at: Dhaboman