Good Shepherd Cathedral 
Rajshahi, BANGLADESH

          

Most. Rev. Paulinus Costa, DD.

The dedication of the Cathedral is memorable milestone for Rajshahi Catholic Diocese. In the past twelve years, since its erection, remarkable successes have been achieved in the evangelization and pastoral ministries in the vineyard of the Lord. We have envisaged a full tide in the pilgrimage of faith in the lives of Priests, religious, catechists and the faithful. We have been fortunate to witness the immense mercy of God in the construction and dedication of the Cathedral, Master Ecclesia, of Rajshahi Diocese. How great is God’s benevolence, blessed be his name!

Rajshahi Diocese was erected on May 21, 1990 with eight districts of Northern Bangladesh. The Most Rev. Patrick D’ Rozario CSC, the first Bishop of Rajshahi and my predecessor, with great pains rejuvenated the existing foundation of faith and catechesis among the people. The faithful still remember him with nostalgia for his efforts of catechesis and evangelization in the region. We are indeed grateful to him.

No sooner had I taken over my Episcopal responsibilities on April 26, 1996 than I felt the tremendous need of a Diocesan infrastructure. I busied myself to ensure a decent and large place of worship, a place for catechesis, formation of the youth and children and a formation house for priests in the Diocese. We have completed the Cathedral, a formation and pastoral centre, a rectory, a convent for Sisters, etc. The minor seminary is under construction.

The only Church in Dingaduba has served as the Cathedral up until now. After the war of liberation in 1971 the number of Catholics started increasing rapidly. Thanks to the efforts of Fr. Stephen Gomes CSC and with monetary assistance from Fr. Giacomelli PIME, a piece of land was purchased in Dingaduba in 1976. A Sick Assistance Shelter for tribal people was immediately built on 1979. The priests from Andharkota parish looked after the handful Catholics in Rajshahi. With the building of the Church in 1982, Dingaduba was raised to the status of a Parish. As the numbers grew fast, Fr. Paolo Ciceri PIME bought 2 acres of low land next to the Church school in Baganpara and walled it. When the new bishop was ordained and installed in 1996 the land served as a place to entertain guests. Who could ever imagine that in six years the new Cathedral would be on the same spot!

The bishop requested Fr. Adolfo L’Imperio PIME, to draw up the designs of a triangular church in 1999. He designed a magnificent large church. However, considering the costs, the bishop later requested Fr. Ezio Mascharetti PIME, to design a similar church as the Archdiocesan Cathedral in Dhaka. He accepted to design it without hesitation. M. Zakaria and consultants were asked to build the new church. The foundation was laid on May 6, 2001.

Constant rains and occasional rifts over supply of materials slowed down the works but never stopped. The funds were scarce at times but thank God the works continued. As one can see, the construction of the Cathedral has been completed in a record period of time.

Since we have left the site of the Holy Redeemer church in Dingaduba, the new church has been named as: the Good Shepherd Cathedral. It is next to a high way in Rajshahi. The gorgeous eye-catching palace covers as area of 15,198.00 square feet (149 feet long 102 feet wide and 34 feet high.) Over 1,500 persons can comfortably worship in it at one time. The bell tower is 66 feet 2 inches tall. The bell has been donated by the famous bell maker himself Cavaliere Roberto Trebino of Genoa in Italy. The skyscraper Cathedral is the symbol of the invincible faith of the Diocese.

The particular characteristic of the Cathedral is that the bishop is its chief pastor and shepherd. He alone can sit on the main chair (Cathedra in Latin, hence the Cathedral) whence he guides the Church in the service of the people. On feast days the bishop is the centre of all celebrations. Before the Ascension, Jesus sent out the apostles and in God’s name they were given the power to sustain and look after the wel-being of the faithful. The bishop represents the apostles with the fullness of the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

"Father, ... you have chosen your servants for the office of bishop. May he be a shepherd to your holy flock, and a high priest blameless in your sight, ... Through the Spirit who gives the grace of high priesthood grant him the power to forgive sins as you have commanded... and to loose every bond by the authority which you gave to your apostles" (cfr. prayer at Ordination of a bishop). Without the bishop the Cathedral is a church of little importance.

The Cathedral is the sign and centre of unity between the bishop and the priests, religious and the faithful of the diocese. It is the greatest symbol of our faith. We are all proud of the new Cathedral. The duty of all, children, youth and old to safeguard the sanctity and beauty of our Church.

Let us lift up our hearts in praise to God for this immense gift. This we remember with gratitude all the generous benefactors and donor agencies with gratitude who made great sacrifices for the construction of the Cathedral. May God bless them and grant them sound health of mind and body and eternal happiness in the life to come.

Last but no least, we owe gratitude to Fr. Ezio Mascharetti PIME, the architect, for the time and creativity he rendered in the past months in the building of the Cathedral with great satisfaction. I express gratitude to M. Zakaria and consultants and his co-workers who with great sagacity completed the works as planned. Deo Gratias!

RAJSHAHI, Bangladesh: December 8, 2002 : The largest Cathedral of Bangladesh was inaugurated on December 8 at Rajshahi. The name of the Cathedral is "Good Shepherd Cathedral" and it is the Cathedral of Rajshahi Diocese. The total area of the church is 15,198 square feet (149 feet long 102 feet wide and 34 feet high.) The holy alter area is 1,392 square feet, the place where the people stay is 8,670 square feet and rest is the area of sacristy. Over 1,500 persons can comfortably worship in it at one time (During the inauguration mass about 2,500 people were inside the cathedral). The bell tower is 66 feet 2 inches tall.
All the bishops of Bangladesh (they are 7), the charge D' affairs of Vatican embassy Monsignor Mitja Lescovar, Archbishop of Calcutta (archbishop Lucas Sirkar) Rev. Fr. Mathias Riener (one of the donor from Austria), Dr. George Kronthaler (one of the donor from Austria), about 60 priests from different dioceses, many Sisters, Brothers and about three thousand Christians joined to the inauguration ceremony.

The ceremony started with the welcoming guests. On the stage, women washed the feet of the guests following the culture. According to the Santali culture it is the most highest way to show honor to a guest. Then the procession started toward the newly built cathedral from the Junior High School (50 meters distance) of the Cathedral. Bishops, priests guests joined the procession headed by the dancing boys and girls. One representative from the constructing firm handed over the keys and officials paper to Bishop Paulinus Costa. Then Bishop Paulinus requested to the Parish priest of Dingaduba, Fr. Paulo Ciceri PIME (60 years) to open the main door of the Cathedral. After opening the door all entered in to the church and the holy mass started.

In the sermon of the inauguration mass Bishop Paulinus Costa said, "This is the place where all the people can come and they will be one in Christ, though they are from different tribes."

After a two and half hours long Mass, there was a cultural program, where the people in different local customs performed different items. During his speech archbishop Michael Rozario, archbishop of Dhaka asked people to build a strong community, as the newly blessed cathedral is strong. Monsignor Mitja Lescovar, the charge D' affairs of Vatican embassy noted that he is very happy to be present here and he will be more happy to present to such ceremony to inaugurate big churches but after that it seems that more big church is needed. Bishop Patrick D’ Rozario CSC said, "To come to this cathedral it is not needed to loose own identity and cultural. We can be united in Christ along with our own identity and cultural."

Just after the inauguration ceremony Bishop Paulinus Costa was interviewed with two short questions. He was asked why he had decided to build so big church as the number of catholic is not so big. Bishop replied that the numbers of Catholics are increasing in Rajshahi area very quickly. Bishop pointed that today so big church seemed too small for all the participants. ‘What is his future plan about this area?’ was asked and Bishop Paulinus said, "My future plan is to built in the campus: one refectory for priest, Boarding buildings for boy and girls (separately), house to Sisters and a community hall." In the campus there is a junior high school and bishop shared that he has no plan to expand this junior high school to high school, but he has plan to establish a high school elsewhere in the diocese.

Mohommad Zakaria, the chief of the construction firm (Zakaria Associated Ltd.) who built the cathedral also interviewed after the ceremony. He told that he is proud to complete the cathedral. He built another cathedral of Mymensigh Diocese and other six churches in Bangladesh. Mr. Zakaria mentioned that this cathedral is the largest church in Bangladesh. About the construction work he mentioned that this church building can endure earthquake of 8 degree Richter scale. The finishing works were done such a way that the maintenance will need less.

a) Short history of Rajshahi Diocese : Rajshahi diocese was declared as diocese on 21^st May, 1990. It was born from Dinajpur Diocese with eight districts of Northern Bangladesh. Bishop Patrick D’ Rozario CSC is the first bishop of Rajshahi who was consecrated on 12^th September 1990. Bishop Patrick was taken to Chittagong Diocese on 21^st April 1995. Then Bishop Paulinus Costa was consecrated as bishop on 26^th April 1996. In Rajshahi diocese the total population is 14,168,784 and number of catholic are 36,065. Total area of the Diocese is 18,063 square kilometers.

 

b) In the Rajshahi Cathedral Parish there are 2,600 Catholics (according to the Catholic Directory of Bangladesh – 2002).

 

c) Bishop Paulinus Costa, STD, DD was born in 19^th October 1936, ordination to priesthood : 21^st December 1963 at Rome, elected bishop on 18^th January 1996, consecrated bishop on 26^th April 1996 at Rajshahi.

 

d) The designed of the cathedral was done by Rev. Fr. Ezio Mascaretti, PIME (58 years old). He is a Italian Priest.