FATHER FAUSTINO CESCATO

DINAJPUR, BANGLADESH: MARCH 14, 2003: A special day was observed to remember late Father Faustino Cescato PIME on 14th March, 2003 at Dinajpur Bishop’s House. Father Cescato died on 4th February and this celebration was just after 40 days of his death. Traditionally, (both for Muslim, Hindu and Christians) in Bangladesh ‘Shradda’ or ‘Chollisha’ (in Bangla Chollis means 40) is observed for any persons after 40 days of the death. It is believed that the soul of a dead person is staying among the relatives in this world and after 40 days the soul goes to the God. Jesus also went to heaven after 40 days of his of resurrection. So, the ‘Chollisha’ has also a Christian faith value.

The day’s program started with holy mass at Dinajpur Cathedral church at 8:00 am. Bishop Moses Costa CSC along with PIME superior Father Ezio Mascaretti and other 17 priests offered the mass. Christians from the villages and institutes Dinajpur Cathedral and Suihary parishes and some from Rajshahi joined to the mass. During the sermon Father Ezio said, “Father Cescato came to Bangladesh to preach the Christ. He knew the people of Bangladesh are poor and he always serve the living Christ among these poor people. His heart was full of love for the poor people. Father Cescato is a real missionary of Christ. We also must try to be a real missionary through doing our duties sincerely. I believe now Father Cescato is in heaven and he is praying for us so that we can be good Christian.”

After the mass a meeting was held to remember the contributions and virtues of Father Cescato. This meeting was held at St. Philip’s Boarding hall room and about 44 persons (both priest, Sisters, Brothers, Seminarians, Caritas Officers [Dinajpur & Rajshahi], physicians and some persons who were involved with Father Cescato’s works) were present.

Bishop Moses Costa CSC said, “This meeting is called to remember the contributions of the Missionaries whom contributions are very much helpful for us. The history of the late missionaries, gives us the energy to be strong in our faith. On 5th February, during the funeral mass of Father Cescato the Cathedral church was full and today also many people were not able to go inside the church, because there was no room. These prove our sincere love and gratefulness toward Father Cescato.”

Father Carlo Calanchi PIME spoke on the life history of Father Cescato. Father Calanchi said, “Father Cescato was just opposite of Father Pinos. Father Pinos spent his maximum time to preach people, but Father Cescato spent maximum time of his life to serve the people. Father Cescato was technician, plumber, photographer, engineer, good driver etc. He was man of far seeing. What he did in 1960’s, now those benefit us. He bought the lands of Rajarampur area when the Marian Shrine was built in year 2000. Now the new pastoral centre of Dinajpur Diocese will be built on the land purchased by Father Cescato. He never allowed misused of any kind of thing - money, energy or time.”

Mr. Everest Hembrom (he is from Rajshahi and worked with Father Cescato at Caritas Rajshahi for about 10 years) said, “Father Cescato was a real development worker. Till now the Government and many NGO are applying to make green the Barandro area (the dry area of Rajshahi district). Father Cescato introduced the cultivation of wheat and potato in Rohonpur areas. He always emphasized to push some tribal people to go town and to be citizen of town. Because his view was if the entire tribals are staying at village, they will never able to change their society. Father Cescato did not separated people by their religion or caste. To him all the poor are same. He started the Catholic society in Rajshahi town. He never compromised with injustice.”

Dr. Samsuddin (a physician of Dhanjuri Leprosy Control Centre, who worked with Father Cescato for about 12 years) said, “Father Cescato was a silent worker. He never ran behind his name. At the last week of January 2003 while Father Cescato was planned to send to Dhaka, that time his clothes were not found. His jacket was not found. He donated all his cloths and jacket to the poor people. Even, any shock was not available in his room to put on his legs before going to Dhaka. One pair shock from one of the drivers of St. Vincent Hospital (Mr. Milon Rozario) was taken for Father Cescato.”

Mr. Bernard Corraya (the regional Director of Caritas Dinajpur) said, “Father Pinos built churches among the hearts of the people though his teachings and Father Cescato built churches with concrete to enrich the Christian fath.”

In the concluding speech, Bishop Moses Costa CSC said, “Father Cescato was a person of God and a man of another person. He was like a banyan tree for us. Let us pray for Father Cescato, for PIME society, for his relatives and friends.”

Father Faustino Cescato, PIME is the Director of Saint Vincent Hospital of Dinajpur. He is also the Director of Dhanjuri Leprosy Control Centre. Earlier, he played a very strong role in the Diocese of Dinajpur (Greater Dinajpur Diocese along with present Rajshahi Diocese) as the Director of Novora Technical School, as the Regional Director of Caritas Dinajpur Region, as the Regional Director of Caritas Rajshahi Region. Here is a short story on Father Faustino Cescato’s life. This was prepared with the help of Father Carlo Calanchi PIME.

Father Cescato was born in September 19, 1930 in the village called VOLPAGO in the province of Treviso, in northern Italy. He was ordained as a priest on June 28, 1959. He is a PIME Priest. Before ordination he had also an experience in military field, for over a year, with Italian Army. This gave him the characteristic strength of his character. Father Cescato was appointed to come to East Pakistan (present Bangladesh), Dinajpur Diocese in 1960.

Father Cescato showed right away his many gifts when Bishop Obert PIME (the 3rd Bishop of Dinajpur Diocese) just after a few months of his arrival, called him to be the official photographer (also printer) of the diocese. Bishop Obert had started, with the help of PIME in USA to received money for adoptions and Father Cescato was put in charge of this office. At the same time a project was made by the Diocese to start a new enterprise.

Father Cescato gave a fundamental contribution to establish the NOVARA CENTRE at Suihari, Dinajpur. He bought the land with the help of Father Anthony Bonolo PIME and of a Hindu lawyer. As everybody can see now, it was a really magic enterprise. Father Cescato then in the early sixties, started building according to a plan for the development of the project of NOVARA CENTRE. There besides the so-called Technical School, there is a Parish with a boarding house, the PIME Regional House, house for the Sisters and the Intermediate Seminary all are situated in that place. A lot of cultivable land is also there attached to each section.

The Novara Technical school started the formation of boys to different trades: Carpentry, Electric, Mechanic skills and finally also driver. This project is still going on successfully.

Father Cescato lived in the house of the gatekeeper, while building a house for the priests, the boarding school and a small village. He kept communication with the benefactors of Novara village of Italy. He continued to keep records of the adoptions for years.

He found in Brother Mario Fardin and other Pime brothers a precious help in the “Trade School”. He remained in Suihari, Dinajpur even during the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971.

After the liberation war Father Cescato worked for Caritas, in Rajshahi living in Andharkota Parish. Father Maggioni PIME was killed at Andharkota and Father Cescato was there that time. Afterwards Father Cescato moved to Caritas Office at Mohishbathan of Rajshahi, when he emphasized the work of excavating ponds and distributing pumps and tube wells. Father Cescato built the present Regional Office building of Caritas Rajshahi. He also built houses for the poor in the area of Rajshahi. In other words, it can be said that Father Cescato started the Catholic Church in Rajshahi town. Father Cescato was also the Regional Director of Caritas Dinajpur Region for few years.

Father Cescato was assigned as the Director of Saint Vincent Hospital of Dinajpur and the project of Dhanjuri Leprosy Control Centre. At the same time many projects have developed under his leadership, especially in favour of building of houses for the poor, poultry project etc. Father Cescato built the Saint Vincent’s Development Fund to help the poor people.

Father Faustino Cescato’s mercy for the poor is proverbial. Also his personal poverty. For himself he is doing very little. He is so exact and perfect in keeping his accounts, but has a soft tooth for the poor, or those who make him believe that they are in real need. His office is always “besieged” by people in need of help.

Father Faustino Cescato’s foresight is really praiseworthy. For instance, the land of Mary’s Shrine in Rajarampur (inaugurated in 1st January, 2000 by Bishop Moses Costa to mark the Great Jubilee of year 2000) was bought by Father Faustino Cescato. He also bought other land in the Rajarampur area for future development. Now the Dinajpur Diocese is planning to build a Pastoral Centre on the land. Father Cescato has been directing the Leprosy Program with energy. He cared the development of Dhanjuri Leprosy Control Centre, under all the sides. One of his latest trips, already very sick has been to Dhanjuri Mission and Leprosy Centre (during the last Christmas).

Father Cescato always very faithful to his religious duties. He has continued to celebrate Mass even when the conditions of his health started deteriorating greatly. Only a few days ago he was “forced” to move to Dhaka, in order to have a pacemaker installed for his heart. END