Catholics in Bangladesh paid homage to the Saint of Padua, whose feast day was commemorated last Friday with a mass celebrated by Bishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze. The request of a faithful who was left without a job. The “negative” impact of the Russian war in Ukraine on the textile industry. The joy of a woman who, thanks to the intercession of Saint Anthony, had a girl.
Dhaka () – “I am unemployed. I came to ask San Antonio for the grace to find work”. Sujit Costa tells the story of him as an employee in a garment factory in Savar, at least until three months ago, when he was suddenly jobless due to the crisis in the sector. We met him during the feast of the saint in Padua (a city in northeastern Italy) that was celebrated in the church of the same name in Kamalapur, a suburb of the capital of Bangladesh.
The 36-year-old man claims that the origin of the crisis is the Russian war in Ukraine, which has had an extremely negative impact on the garment industry. Many countries that previously bought large quantities have reduced the volume of their orders to Bangladesh and many companies have cut costs and staff, causing mass layoffs of which Bangladesh itself has been the victim. He is now looking for a job in another company as a quality control manager.
Momots Rosario attended the celebration to thank the saint. “After I got married – she says – I spent eight years without having children. Last year I came to Kamalapur for the festival and I asked Jesus for that grace through Saint Anthony. My prayer was heard and three months ago I was blessed with the birth of my daughter.” Two stories, two examples of devotees among the more than 6,000 faithful who participated in the celebrations, some to ask and others to thank the saint.
The parish priest Joyonta Sylvester Gomes was very happy for the large number of faithful, who were received with a free lunch offered by the local Church. “Every year – he told – we organize a lunch for the faithful with the contribution of local Catholics. Many people come to the festival from other parishes in the city of Dhaka. Catholics in Bangladesh have an immense devotion to Saint Anthony (who dedicated himself to the poor and sick, as well as being a profound scholar of the Scriptures and famous for his miracles during his lifetime). His party is celebrated today, June 13, but here we celebrate it on Friday [9 de junio] because it is a holiday in a country with a large Muslim majority.
Mgr Bejoy N. D’Cruze, Archbishop of Dhaka and President of the Bangladesh Bishops’ Conference (CBCB) presided over the mass and in his homily recalled the virtues of the saint and invited the faithful to follow his example in the lives of all days. “Generally we turn to San Antonio when we lose something. We Christians in Bangladesh are losing values like family, religious faith, unity and many other important things. Let us ask Saint Anthony – continued the prelate – that they shine again in our lives”.
