Catholic Church, Noakhali

P. O. Sonapur, Noakhali-3802

Bangladesh

Cell Phone (Parish Priest): +88 01785795131

Sunday:

Will be updated soon. 

Monday-Saturday:

Will be updated soon. 

District: Noakhali.

The area under Noakhali Sadar Upazila: Ashwadia, Batya, Binodpur, Char Matua, Dadpur, Ewazbalia, Ghoshbag, Kadir Hanif, Kaladarap, Narottampur, Noazpur, Noakhali, Noannai, Sundalpur.

The area under Companiganj Upazila: Char Elahi, Char Fakira, Char Hazari, Char Kakra, Char Parbati, Musapur, Rampur, Sirajpur.

The area under Begumganj Upazila: Alyarpur, Amanullapur, Begumganj, Chhayani, Durgapur, Eklashpur, Gopalpur, Narottampur, Hajipur, Jirtali, Kadirpur, Kutubpur, Mir Warishpur, Rajganj, Rasulpur, Sharifpur.

The area under Hatiya Upazila: Burir Char, Char Ishwar, Char King, Harni Chanandi, Jahajmara, Nalchira, Sonadia, Sukh Char, Tamaruddin, Nijhumdip.

The area under Subarna Char Upazila: Char Amanullah, Char Bata, Char Jubaly, Char Clerk, Char Jabbar, Char Wapda.

The area under Kabir Hat Upazila: Batya, Chaprashirhat, Ghoshbag, Narottampur, Sundalpur.

The area under Senbag Upazila: Arjuntala, Bijbagh, Chhatarpaia, Dumuria, Kabilpur, Kadra, Kesharpar, Mohammadpur, Nabipur.

The area under Chatkhil Upazila: Badalkut, Hatpukoria, Khil Para, Mohammadpur, Nayakhola, Panchgaon, Parkote, Ramnarayanpur, Sahapur.

The area under Sonaimuri Upazila: Ambarnagar, Amisha Para, Bazra, Deoti, Jayag, Nadana, Nateshwar, Sonaimuri, Sonapur, Baragaon, Chashir Hat (Old Sonaimuri).

District: Feni.

The area under Daganbhuiyan Upazila: Daganbhuiyan, Joylashkara, Mathu Bhuiyan, Purba Chandrapur, Rajapur, Ramnagar, Sindurpur, Yakubpur.

The area under Chhagalniya Upazila: Gopal, Mohamaya, Pathannagar, Radhanagar, Subhapur.

The area under Sonagazi Upazila: Amirabad, Bagdana, Char Chandira, Char Darbesh, Char Majlishpur, Mangalkandi, Matiganj, Nawabpur, Sonagazi.

The area under Feni Sadar Upazila:
Baligaon, Dhalia, Dharmapur, Farhadnagar, Fazilpur, Kalidah, Kazirbag, Lemua, Matabi, Panchgachhiya, Chanua, Sarishadi.

The area under Porshuram Upazila: Chithalia, Baksh, Mohammad, Mirzanagar.

The area under Fulgazi Upazila: Amjadhat, Anandapur, Darbarpur, Fulgazi, G.M. Hat, Munshirhat.

District Noakhali is situated in the south of this country. The Bangladeshi district of Noakhali is located on the shores of the river Meghna. The parish is known as ‘Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes’. There are eight villages and two sub-centers in total. The total number of families is 371, while the population is 2,126. A Priests’ Rectory, a Sisters’ Convent, Boys’ Hostel, Saint Rita Niketan, Sunday School, Sevak Sangh, Parish Association, Credit Union, B.C.C, Brother Andre’s High School, Mariam Health Centre, and Women’s Handicrafts are all located in this complex.

The term Noakhali consists of two elements. The word Noa means new and khali means canal. There is yet another lovely narrative. “Bhulua” is the original name of Noakhali. Vishwambhar was the King of Mithila. He was the son of the Hindu King Adi Sur. Varahi appeared in Noakhali as a deity on his way back from Chandranath’s pilgrimage and promised him universal power in exchange for his worship and offerings. He constructed an altar and slaughtered an animal. As the sky was cloudy, he presented the sacrifice to the west. When he realized he was going in the incorrect direction, he yelled “Bhul Hua,” which means error. From this term, the original name of Noakhali, ‘Bhulua’, was derived.

Noakhali Parish is known as in the year 1843, Benedictine missionaries began pastoral work in Noakhali. Father John Barbe, O. S. B., Father Ignatius Stork, O. S. B., and Assistant Father Thomas Jubiburu (Carmelite) are their names. From 1843 to 2017, a total of 103 priests served at various periods in Noakhali. 6 Benedictine Fathers, 69 Holy Cross Fathers, 23 Diocesan Fathers, and 2 PIME Fathers are among the clerics.

The detailed history of Noakhali Parish:

A number of Portuguese-descended Christians from Chattogram and Diang settled in Bhulua on the shores of the Meghna River in the Noakhali region in the year 1700. However, their quantity is unknown.

Bishop Lanes of Mylapore, SJ, made a pastoral visit to Bhulua (Noakhali) in the year 1713. The next 130 years of Noakhali’s history are unknown. The number of Christians at this time was 400.

Father John Burbe, O.S.B., stayed in Noakhali for approximately 10 days en route from Chattogram to Kolkata in May of 1843. There was no permanent cleric in Noakhali at the time. A priest would visit Noakhali every three to five months. At that time, there were 633 Christians.

Father Thomas Jubiburu settled in Noakhali in 1845 A.D. He was the first to construct a tiny bamboo church.

Father Ignatius Stork was in Noakhali in the year 1850. He initiated three individuals on January 20. He stayed in Noakhali for two and a half years, and when he left, Noakhali was once again devoid of any pastor.

In 1853, the first group of Holy Cross Priests arrived in Bangladesh. Father Verit assumed control of Noakhali Parish. In May 1853, the catechist Charles Dias of Sonapur initiated five individuals.

The 29th of August in 1855 was a sombre day. Father Montini and Sr. Marie Victoria, along with three sailors, perished in the Meghna River while travelling to Noakhali. After an exhaustive search, only Father Montini’s body was discovered. They were interred beneath the altar of the Sacred Heart beside the church of Noakhali.

In 1859, Father Marchie assumed the role of pastor. During this period, an additional 19 individuals were initiated into Christianity.

Since March 1855, Father Verite intended to construct a new cemented church in Noakhali in 1861. With the aid of “The Bengal Catholic Herald” and Bishop Oliff’s support, he began soliciting subscriptions to raise funds for the new church. The foundation was poured, and construction made some progress. During the time of Father Maniel, church construction was concluded in 1861 A.D. Bishop Pierre Dufall, C.S.C. blessed the church.

Beginning in May of 1867, the pastoral charge is assigned to Father Amemarie Furmon and then Father Banneros, C.S.C.

As the Holy Cross Fathers departed Bengal between 1876 and 1888, the Benedictine Fathers took over administration of Noakhali. Father Banneros returned to East Bengal in 1888.

Father Banneros returned to Noakhali between October 1891 and October 1894 and performed his duties competently. He passed away in Dhaka in 1897 AD.

After Father Banneros’ demise in 1897, Father Francis became the parish priest of Noakhali.

Between 1895 and 1903, the first railway line from Assam to Bengal was constructed in East Bengal. The construction between Feni and Laksam was concluded in 1895 AD. The second section from Laksam to Sahebghata was completed in 1903 AD. The economic situation of Noakhali then improved.

Father Crowley exerts great effort in 1910 to establish separate school for males. The outcome that we currently appreciate.

Father Lapaya arrived in Noakhali in 1914 as a pastoral priest.

On 10 January 1915, in Noakhali Parish, Frather Joseph Harel, C.S.C. was ordained priest by Bishop Frederick Lineborn, CSC. He was a missionary from Canada.

Father Charles Finney, C.S.C., served during the period of 1920-1924 A.D. According to the Noakhali registry, he served as the Parish administrator.

From 1924 to 1928, Father J. J. De Costa served here. Father Raymond Clema C.S.C., Father Alphonse, Father Leon Gajzon, and Father Ramond Larose served here in 1927.

Arrival of Holy Cross Sisters in Noakhali in 1928 A.D. Sisters Armen, Amy, and Bonpastor comprise the first group of sisters. At this time, the pastor was Father Misho.

In the year 1941, Brother Godfrey Dennis, CSC established new secondary school named Brother Andre’s School which created a new educational horizon.

In 1942, a novitiate for the Fathers and Brothers of the Holy Cross Congregation was established in Noakhali.

1950 A.D. saw the destruction of the Parish of Noakhali along with the convent, the priest’s rectory, and the church due to the coral erosion of the Meghna River.

In the year 1962, a new church was consecrated in West Badripur and named after Our Lady of Lourdes.

In the year 1977 A.D., there were 1,500 Christians in Noakhali. Hundreds of adherents also relocated to Dhaka and Chattogram. Fathers Gilbert Lague, C.S.C and Father Peter Saha subsequently served in Noakhali.

Fr. Gilbert Lague, C.S.C. and Fr. Timothy Quiah, Fr. Abraham, Fr. Albert Mankhin, Fr. Peter Saha, Fr. Pierre Benoit, C.S.C., Fr. Philip Chatagano, Fr. Patrick D’Rozario, Fr. Joseph Garibaldi, PIME, Fr. Germain de Grandmaison, Fr. Bimal Joachim Rozario, and Fr. Robert Gonsalves served the Noakhali parish between 1978 and 1989 A.D.

Fr. Timothy Quiah, Fr. Arturo, PIME, Fr. Alex Rabanal, C.S.C., Fr. Atul Palma, C.S.C., Fr. Sylvester Rozario, and Fr. Nelson, C.S.C. served this parish from the years 1989 to 2000.

Fathers Gordon Dias, Lintu Roy, Leonard C. Rebeiro, and Mukul Anthony Mondol, Liton Francis Gomes, Sahchay Germain Gomes, Lintu Abshalom Roy and Augustine Gregory serven in Noakhali form the years 2003 to 2023.

Parish Priest: Fr. Sadhan Augustine Gregory.

Assistant Parish Priest: Fr. Joachim Kullu, SVD.

Congregation of Holy Cross Sisters (CSC): 4 Sisters serving.

1. Parish Pastoral Council.
2. Liturgy Sub-committee. 
3. Justice and Peace Sub-committee. 
4. Cemetery Sub-committee. 
5. Education Sub-committee. 

1. Sevok Sangha.
2. Uddyogi Dol.
3. Small Christian Communities (SCC).
4. Society of Saint Vincent De Paul (SSVP).
5. Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement (BCSM).

1. Brother Andre’s School, Est. 1940 AD. 
2. Brother Andre’s Evening Primary School, Est. 1973 AD. 

1. Cooperative Credit Union Ltd.

Catholics: 2,126

Sub-centers: 2

Church wards: 10

Church: 3

Parish workers: 6

1. Msgr. Thomas Quiah. 
2. Fr. Timothy Quiah. 
3. Fr. Gordon Dias. 
4. Fr. Robert Gonsalves. 
5. Fr. Johnny Finney, OMI. 
6. Fr. Joseph Gonsalves, CSC. 
7. Deacon Joy Joseph Quiah. 
8. Sr. Victoria Finney, RNDM. 
9. Sr. Adeline Gonsalves, LHC. 
10. Sr. Juliet Mendez, LHC. 
11. Sr. Veronica Gonsalves, OSL. 
12. Sr. Benedicta Dias, MC. 
13. Sr. Philomina Quiah, CSC. 
14. Sr. Violet Rodrigues, CSC. 
15. Sr. Mary Immaculate Gonsalves, PCPA. 
16. Sr. Jhunu Mary Gonsalves.