Forums of Life and Ministries
The Chattogram Archdiocese has a long-standing practice of encouraging coordination across various pastoral forums. There are various forums that frequently get together to talk about pastoral difficulties within the local church. The diocesan pastoral service team incorporates the suggestions and recommendations from these forums when formulating the diocesan pastoral plan.
1. Presbyterium of the Diocese
In the Chattogram Archdiocese, there are 29 priests and one deacon working in 12 parishes, two sub-parishes, two seminaries, one pastoral center, and the diocesan curia. One from the Jesuit, six from the Holy Cross, three from the Oblates, five from the SVD congregations, and 14 of them are diocesan priests. For the presbyterium meeting, the priests and the archbishop get together at least twice a year for two or three days. Along with the archbishop, they confer on matters pertaining to pastoral care, mutual fraternity, and the continual formation of God’s people.
2. Clergy and Religious Meeting
A total of 15 religious brothers and 70 nuns have been serving in the vineyard of Chattogram Archdiocese. All 15 men religious are members of the Holy Cross Congregation. Among the women religious, 20 are from RNDM, 15 are from Holy Cross, 13 are from SMRA, 10 are from LHC, 7 are from MC, and 5 are from SSMI congregations. Along with the clergies, religious brothers and nuns meet twice a year in Chattogram. Besides, a special meeting takes place in Chattogram Hill Tracts for the clergy and religious serving in that pastoral region. The main objective of these meetings is to foster and practice communion and solidarity among the clergy-religious. In these meetings, clergy and religious share on the parish pastoral activities, discuss the ongoing pastoral issues, educate themselves on theological papers, and take part in prayer, eucharist, eucharistic adoration, and reconciliation sacrament.
3. Diocesan Pastoral Assembly
The diocesan pastoral assembly takes place every year with the participation of delegated priests, religious, pastoral agents, youth, professionals, etc. from all the parishes and quasi-parishes of Chattogram Archdiocese. Diocesan commissions’ coordinators also take part in the assembly. The archbishop presides over the meeting while the pastoral service team is the main facilitator. The pastoral assembly is the source and expression of communion and sharing, active participation, community life, and missionary activities. The assembly assists the archbishop in promulgating the pastoral decisions and directions for the archdiocese.
4. Chattogram Archdiocesan Priests' Fraternity
Fourteen diocesan priests meet every month for a day and a half at the Archbishop’s House, Chattogram along with the archbishop. The focus of the meeting is renewal of the diocesan priests, fraternal sharing, and discussions on special pastoral issues concerning the diocesan priests. They take part in prayer, eucharist, eucharistic adoration, and reconciliation as a community.
Learn More About Our Pastoral Work
Commissions and Desks
Six diocesan commissions were established to carry out the pastoral strategy in 1996 which were divided into 13 commissions and 3 desks in 2015 in order to accommodate the new pastoral plan from 2012.
Coordinating Bodies
Chattogram Archdiocese has a diocesan pastoral coordinating committee with two regional entities in Chattogram and Chattogram Hill Tracts. It plans a diocesan-level yearly general assembly, one regional meeting in Chattogram, and one meeting in CHT.
Pastoral Service Team
In August 1983, the Pastoral Service Team, popularly known as PST of Chattogram Diocese was set up by the Late Bishop Joachim Rozario, CSC and he appointed then Father Patrick D’Rozario, CSC, now a Cardinal the first director of the team.
Pilgrimage Places
On October 1, 1978, Late Bro. Flavian Laplante, CSC constructed the Grotto (shrine) of the Mother Mary in the hermitage and on February 11, 1979, he organized the feast of the Our Lady of Lourdes.
Formation Centers
The Chattogram Catholic Archdiocese has two formation centers. One is in Bandarban named ‘Fiat Pastoral Center’ and another is in Chattogram named ‘Archdiocesan Training Center’.
Our Faith