Catholic Church, Bandarban

Don Bosco School Road

P.O. Bandarban, Dist.: Bandarban

Bangladesh

Cell phone (Parish priest): +88 01837104825

Sunday:

7.30 am

Tuesday:

6.00 pm

Other days:

6.30 am

District: Bandarban

The area under Bandarban Sadar Upazila: Bandarban, Kuhalong, Rajvila, Sholaka, Tankabati.

The area under Rowangchari Upazila: Alikhong, Nowa Patang, Rowangchhari, Tarachha.

District: Rangamati

The area under Kaptai Upazila: Chandraghona, Chitmarang, Kaptai, Raikhali, Waggya.

The area under Rajosthali Upazila: Kakra Chhari (B.Halia), Ghila Chhari, Gaindya.

The area under Belaichari Upazila: Belai Chhari, Farua, Kangra Chhari.

The area under Juraichari Upazila: Banjugi Chhara, Dumdumya, Jurai Chhari, Maidang.

The vast mountainous Bandarban district is surrounded by lush green forests. Its location is in the south-east corner on the map of Bangladesh. As well as the natural diversity, there is diversity among the ethnic groups living in this area. Marma, Chakma, Tripura, Bawm, Murong, Chak, Khumi, Lusai, Khiang, Tangchanga, Pakho, and Rakhine tribes live in the mountainous Bandarban district. Each of them has a different language and culture. In the past, they depended solely on jum cultivation and worshiped idols, gods and goddesses, and nature. The whole area was full of superstition.

Rangamati is the first parish of Greater Chattogram Hill Tracts. On May 27, 1957, Father Bertrand Rodrigues reached Bandarban from Rangamati with Father Leo Gomes crossing the remote mountain pass. At that time there was no way to go to Bandarban by bus. Father Bertrand returned, leaving Father Leo in Bandarban. Father Leo took refuge in the home of Adumong Marma, a teacher at a government primary school. He started the work of establishing a church in Bandarban. Later Father Simon Theta joined Father Leo in Bandarban.

Father Leo purchased 6 acres of hill land from Hlathwaingprue Marma, son of the then King Kyajsaing Marma of Bomang Circle. At this place in 1958 he built a mud church and a mud house for living. In 1959 they established Don Bosco School. To help him in pastoral works, Father Leo brought Mr. Paul Halder from Narikelbari parish and appointed him as CHT’s first catechist. Over time, many people were brought from Mymensingh and appointed as catechists in Bandarban. Catechist Paul met and got to know merchant Kasiram Tripura at the royal court. Later, with the help of Kasiram Tripura, the first Catholic community started in the Tripura tribe. Mungaha Para, Kala Para, Jagram Para, Adiga Para – all these areas were the addresses of the first initiates.

In 1965, Father Benjamin Labe built a wooden church in the style of a Buddhist temple. Father Germain designed the church. As the use of the ancient church was risky, the present two-storied church was blessed on March 21, 2013, after its construction. In 1966, the ‘Udaygiri Training Center’ was constructed for humanitarian and religious training. In 1982, St. Francis Xavier’s Hostel at Bolipara and St. Joseph’s Hostel at Thanchi were established. Until 1992 AD, the RNDM Sisters were temporarily doing pastoral work in Bolipara residing in Bandarban. That year they took charge permanently at Bolipara. Father Leo Hostel was opened in 1995 AD in Kalajhiri Para. The following year, the LHC Sisters took over the management of Father Leo’s hostel in Kalajhiri Para. The new building of the present convent and student hostel of SMRA Sisters was constructed in 2000 AD. A sick shelter was opened in 2001 AD at Bandarban and later converted into a dispensary. St. Paul’s Hostel was opened in Rowanchari in 2008 AD.

In 2015, the CHT Regional Office of the Pastoral Service Team of the Chattogram Archdiocese was started in Bandarban. In 2017, the current residence of the Fathers was blessed upon completion of construction. The construction work of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Training Center started in 2018 and was blessed in 2020.

At present, there are 5 parishes of Chattogram Catholic Archdiocese in the Greater Bandarban District. Since the establishment of Bandarban parish in 1957, the entire Bandarban district had only one parish. As the mission progressed, many people met Christ, and the number of Christians increased. Thanchi was established in 2000 AD, Alikadam in 2005 AD, and Bolipara in 2008 AD as separate parish dividing from Bandarban for providing more pastoral care and formation of the people.

Parish Priest: Fr. Binoy Sebastian Gomes, CSC. 

Assistant Parish Priest: Fr. Sumon Peter Costa, CSC. 

Congregation of Holy Cross Brothers (CSC): 2 Brothers serving.

Congregation of Associates of Mary Queen of the Apostles (SMRA): 5 Sisters serving. 

1. Local Pastoral Team (LPT). 
2. Parish Pastoral Team (PPT). 
3. Hostel Managing Committee. 
4. Block Committee (five committees in five blocks)

1. Holy Childhood Association. 
2. Sevok Sangha. 
3. Young Christian Students Movement (YCS). 
4. Youth Organization. 
5. Jesus Youth (JY) Movement. 
6. Legion of Mary. 
7. Saint Vincent De Paul Society (SSVP). 

1. Don Bosco High School, Est. 1959 AD. 
2. Don Bosco Boys’ Hostel, Est. 1957 AD. 
3. Fatima Rani Girls’ Hostel, Est. 1957 AD. 
4. St. Paul’s Hostel, Est. 2008 AD. 

St. Paul’s Dispensary, Est. 2009 AD. 

1. Mission Kormojibi Cooperative Credit Union Ltd. 
2. Swanirvor Cooperative Credit Union Ltd. 

Catholics: 8,691

Mission center: 1 (Rowangchori)

Church blocks: 5

Church: 50

Catechist: 6

Prayer leaders: 48 (Full time)

Prayer leaders: 29 (Volunteers)

Parish workers: 17

1. Brother Montrajoy Tripura, CSC
2. Brother Subol Tripura, CSC
3. Sister Rongshoti Tripura, LHC
4. Sister Sumita Tripura, OSL
5. Sister Swapna Tripura, RNDM
6. Sister Mary Jurika Tripura, SMRA
7. Sister Christina Tripura, CSC
8. Shaktijon Tripura, CSC (Seminarian)