Catholic Church, Khagrachari

Upper Perachora

Khagrachari-4400

Bangladesh

Cell phone (parish priest): +88 01846543192

Sunday:

5.00 pm.

Monday-Saturday:

6.30 am.

District: Khagrachari

The area under Khagrachari Sada Upazila: Bhaibonchhara, Golabari, Kamalchhari, Khagrachari, Perachhara. 

The area under Mahalchari Upazila: Kayanghat, Mahalchhari, Maschhari, Mubachhari, Sindukchhari.

The area under Dighinala Upazila: Babuchhara, Boalkhali, Dighinala, Kabakhali, Merun.

The area under Panchari Upazila: Chengi, Latiban, Logang, Panchhari. 

The area under Ramgarh Upazila: Halfchhari, Pathachhara, Ramgarh.

The area under Manikchari Upazila: Batnatali, Manikchhari.

The area under Laxmichari Upazila: Barmachhari, Dulyatali, Laxmichhari.

The area under Matiranga Upazila: Baranala, Belchhari, Guimara, Gumti, Matiranga, Tubalchhari, Taindang. 

The mountainous region of Chattogram Hill Tracts is surrounded by high and low mountains in the natural environment located in the east of this country. Along with the residents of 13 tribal groups, Bengalis also live here. The region consists of three districts. Khagrachari hill district is one of them. There are a total of 18 villages in this parish. 15 villages have small churches for conducting worship. Catholics number 1,377.

Chittagong Hill Tracts was a part of Greater Chattogram before it was declared a district by the British Government in 1860 AD. Chattogram Region consisted of 3 subdivisions. The subdivisions were Rangamati, Bandarban, and Ramgar. Ramgar sub-division consisted of 3 police stations. The police stations were Ramgar Sadar, Mahalchari, and Dighinala. Khagrachari was then a union under Mahalchari police station. Later in 1968, Khagrachari was promoted to police station. Then on November 1, 1983, Khagrachari was converted into a full-fledged district. Although it is natural to declare the district of Ramgar as an ancient town and city, the government declared Khagrachari as a district due to its geographical location, surrounding conditions, communication facilities, etc. being more convenient than Ramgar. The name Khagrachari originated from the reed forest. Khagrachari city has a meandering river flowing through it. Its name is Chengi. In the past, there was a deep reed forest on both sides of the river. The ancient name of Khagrachari was Tarak.

Christians have been present in Khagrachari since British rule. A dilapidated abandoned church stands as a witness of the times at Betchari (Battala), which came to be known as Christian Para. Manjulakshan Tripura served first as catechist and he was later assisted by Ullas Tripura and now Dayamohan Tripura is serving as catechist. In 1950, Father Fetar came to Khagrachari while serving as pastor of the Rangamati parish. At that time, Mr. Manjulkshan Tripura, a native of Khagrachari, was helping Father Fetar. He worked with Father Fetar for a long time. At present, he is living in his house at Jero Mile in Khagrachari. In 1952 Father Fetar met the then Headman Mr. Mongsaig Chowdhury. Father Fetar got 2.50 acres of land at Jero Mile to start pastoral and charitable activities with the help of Mr. Mongsaig Chowdhury as compensation for some land acquired by the mission by the government at Rangamati. There he built a house of tin and wood to live in. He sometimes came from Rangamati and stayed there. Master Atul Assam resided there on behalf of Father Fetar for overall supervision. In 1971, Master Atul Assam left Rangamati with his family in fear for his life due to the Bangladesh independence war. Father Fetar could not come regularly to Khagrachari due to old age. So he appointed Dudhumgini Mugh, a local resident, as a worker to take care of this house and place. But he was not diligent enough in his duties. Father Fetar was not present regularly and the house fell into disrepair day by day. The place is devoid of houses and trees. In 1988, the connecting road between Khagrachari and Rangamati districts was built. During this period political unrest arose in the area. Army camp was first set up at the mission site in 1988 without the permission of the mission authorities. After two years of their stay, the army camp was shifted elsewhere. In 1991, the Armed Police Battalion again set up camp at the mission site. Contacted by local and upper echelons, they left when they were asked to evacuate the camp with Kanungo’s help. In 1995, the army camp was set up again without informing the mission authorities. Till now they are staying at the mission site and continuing their activities.

When Khagrachari district was a sub-center of Rangamati at that time, the fathers of Rangamati parish kept coming to Khagrachari when a semi-pucca house with tin roof was constructed on a part of the land below the army camp. They are Father Barun Lawrence Gomes, Father Lazarus Gomes, Father Robert Gonsalves, Seminarian Michael Dewri, etc. They came to Khagrachari from Rangamati and stayed at Jero Mile and interacted with the people of different villages.

In 2006-07 AD, Father Jerome Rinku Gomes, and Deacon Lintu Roy took permanent charge of Khagrachari. Sister Latika Gomes, CSC; Sister Arpita, CSC; Sister Mary Gomes, CSC cooperated with the Fathers in early pastoral work. In 2006, 19 Christians from Khagrachari were initiated into the Catholic Church for the first time. In May 2008, the Sisters shifted to Upper Perachara and started living permanently in the newly constructed Sisters’ House. In 2009 AD the priests’ rectory was constructed at the parish and in 2010 AD the Fathers came to Upper Perachara and started staying permanently.

Chattogram Diocese took over the management of Matiranga 10 No. Alutila Junior School in 2008 AD and named it “St Patrick’s Junior School, Alutula”. The Holy Cross Sisters served in the school from 2008-2016. ‘Seva Sangha’, a vocational training school conducted activities during 2009-2013 AD at Khagrachari for technical training of poor and unemployed boys and girls.

Khagrachari was under Rangamati parish from 1955-2008. Bishop Patrick D’Rozario, CSC (now Cardinal) elevated Khagrachari to the status of parish on May 24, 2009. The parish is dedicated to Saint John the Apostle. On February 19, 2017, Archbishop Moses M. Costa, CSC laid the foundation of the construction work of the church and inaugurated the church on June 15, 2018. The local people have given considerable support in purchasing the land for the church in Upper Perachara. Saint John’s Hostel was established in 2015.

In Khagrachari parish Christians have been tortured at various times. In 1992, in Chelachara Tripura Para, Hindu religious extremists tortured some Christians, burning their churches and even physically torturing them.

Parish Priest: Fr. Michael Roy. Mobile: 01557275508

Parochial Vicar: Fr. Joy Joseph Quiah. Mobile: 01754958113

Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross (CSC): 2 Sisters serving.

1. Parish Pastoral Team. 
2. Liturgy Sub-committee.

1. Legion of Mary. 
2. Youth Association. 
3. Teachers’ Association. 
4. Holy Childhood Society. 

1. St. Patrick’s Junior School, Management was taken over in 2008 AD. 
2. St. John’s Girls’ Hostel, Est. 2009 AD. 

1. Saint John’s Dispensary, Est. 2009 AD. 

Catholics: 1,377

Sub-centers: 1

Church blocks: 5

Church: 16

Catechist: 1

Prayer leaders: 12 (Full-time)

Prayer leaders: 7 (Volunteers)

Parish workers: 7