Parish of Our Lady of Presentation
Erected on: December 16, 2008 AD
Patron Saint: Our Lady of Presentation
After Thanchi became a new parish, Bolipara separated from Bandarban and merged into Thanchi parish. On December 16, 2008, Bolipara quasi-parish was upgraded to a full-fledged parish. Bolipara parish is a home of 3,219 Catholic believers.
Address & Contact
Catholic Church, Bolipara
P.O. Bolipara Bazar
Bandarban-4620
Bangladesh
Telephone: +88 01836867997
Mass Timing
Will be updated soon.
Parish Map
Territorial Area
District: Bandarban
The area under Thanchi Upazila: Bolipara.
The area under Ruma Upazila: Ghyalanga, Paindu, Remakri, Ruma.
History
In 1957, the late Father Leo Gomes started working for the development of small ethnic groups in Bandarban. The erstwhile Jagaram Para, now known as Zaitoon Para, included in Bolipara became one of the centers of Father Leo Gomes’ activities. Bolipara soon became the sub-center of Bandarban parish. Although the evangelization and pastoral work in Thanchi started much later, still administratively Thanchi was earlier an upazila and Thanchi took shape as a new parish. Priests and nuns from Bandarban would spend the night at Bolipara and work for the spiritual, human, and economic development of the devotees inspired by Jesus Christ in Thanchi and surrounding areas.
In 1982, St. Francis Xavier’s Hostel was established at Bolipara for boys and girls separately. Until 1992 AD, the RNDM Sisters were temporarily doing spiritual work from Bandarban. That year they established a permanent mission at Bolipara and took charge of hostel management and pastoral work. St. Francis Xavier’s Primary School was established in 1996 AD and was later upgraded to a Junior School. In 2009, a dispensary of the same name started serving patients on a limited scale.
After Thanchi became a new parish, Bolipara separated from Bandarban and merged into Thanchi parish. As there was no full-time priest here, once every month or two months, priests from Thanchi came to administer the sacraments to the Christians. On December 16, 2008, the Bolipara quasi-parish was upgraded to a full-fledged parish. Father Shekhar Richard Perera, CSC, served as the first pastor-priest of the parish.
Priests & Religious Serving
Parish Priest: Fr. Shitol Rozario, CSC.
Assistant Parish Priest: Fr. Peter D’Rozario, CSC.
Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM): 3 Sisters serving.
Pastoral Council & Teams
Will be updated soon.
Lay Associations and Movements
Will be updated soon.
Educational Institutes
- St. Francis Xavier’s Junior Shool, Est. 1996 AD.
- St. Francis Xavier’s Boys’ Hostel, Est. 1982 AD.
- St. Francis Xavier’s Girls’ Hostel, Est. 1982 AD.
- St. Anthony’s Hostel, Ruma, Est. 2020 AD.
Charitable Institutes
St. Francis Xavier’s Dispensary, Est. 2009 AD.
Other Organizations
Bolipara Mission Christian Cooperative Credit Union Ltd.
Important Statistics
Catholics: 3,219
Sub-centers: 1
Church blocks: 3
Church: 27
Catechist: 3
Prayer leaders: 22 (Full-time)
Prayer leaders: 6 (Volunteers)
Parish workers: 14
Responded to Vocation Life
- Sister Kanchati Tripura, RNDM
- Sister Juliet Tripura, LHC
Recent Events in the Bolipara (Click here)
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St. Joseph’s Parish (Rangamati)
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Fatima Rani Parish (Bandarban)
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Shanti Raj Parish (Thanchi, Bandarban)
Ever since the establishment of Bandarban parish by Father Leo Gomes, evangelization work has begun in Thanchi area among the tribal people. Bishop Patrick D’Rozario, CSC declared Shantiraj Parish, Thanchi as a full-fledged Parish on June 29, 2000 AD. Thanchi parish is a home of 4,710 Catholic believers.
Shanti Rani Parish (Alikadam, Bandarban)
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St. John the Apostle’s Parish (Khagrachari)
Khagrachari was under Rangamati parish from 1955-2008. Bishop Patrick D’Rozario, CSC elevated Khagrachari to the status of parish on May 24, 2009. Khagrachari parish is a home of 1,377 Catholic believers.
St. Peter’s Parish (Lama, Bandarban)
Before being elevated to a parish, the area of the present Lama parish was first under Bandarban parish and later under Alikadam parish. Lama parish was established on 17th March 2013 by Bishop Moses Costa, CSC, and named St. Peter’s Parish. Lama parish is a home of 2,438 Catholic believers.
Our Parishes