My name is Bwambale Deusi from Kasese-Uganda. I am a seminarian of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Province of East Africa. I am currently doing a Pastoral Spiritual Year (Regency) at St. George’s Parish, Mariamnagar-Mymensingh Diocese in the Sacred Heart Province, Bangladesh. This Parish was founded in 1937 by Holy Cross Fathers. It is a rural parish with a population of over 8000 Christians and 21 villages (out-stations) served by two priest and three sisters of the SMRA Congregation. The major ministries of this parish are sacramental, teaching, health care and social justice apostolates.
St. George’s Parish predominantly consists of ‘Garo’ People also called ‘Mande’, one of the minority ethnic groups in the mainstream Bengali Community. From my interaction with village elders, the Garo People are popularly known as the ‘Achik’ (‘hill man’) or ‘Mande’ (‘the man’). These terms are essentially linked to the Geographical nature of the areas most inhabited by Mande People. Many indigenous groups in Bangladesh with no exception of the Mande have lived for a long time under the oppression and marginalization of majority groups like Muslims, Hindus and conventional Bengali People.
They are largely of humble economic status. They have interminably fought for the recognition of their rights and dignity since Bangladesh’s colonization by India and Pakistan and still now from the majority groups mentioned above. The Garo people are characterized by an intrinsic link to their land, ‘Jhum’ cultivation (shift) of rice and a variety of vegetables, a warm welcome and generosity to people that is so apparent, a blend of cultural practices and Christianity, festivities like ‘Wangala’ (harvest) traditionally dedicated to the deity ‘Misi Saljong’ for a bountiful harvest and culinary of a variety of organic dishes like Bamboo shoot curry, fish and lentil soup popularly known as Dal.
For the four months I have been here since August, I have had a tremendous experience of my encounter with Holy Cross Men and Women both ordained and lay, Christians and the general Bengali Culture. One of the enduring qualities of the Congregation of Holy Cross is hospitality and certainly a quality of the members here. Since my arrival in Sacred Heart Province, I have experienced this in a most profound way from all members both finally professed and those still in formation and the Christian community at large. Members of this province live out the charism and mission of the congregation through parish, education, health and social justice ministries.
Our constitutions No. 2 on Mission, Art. 17, states that; “our mission sends us across borders of every sort. Often, we must make ourselves at home among more than one people or culture…our broader experience allows both the appreciation and the critique of every culture and the disclosure that no culture of this world can be our abiding home.”
It was this article of the constitution, that inspired my interest in doing pastoral spiritual year in Sacred Heart Province Bangladesh. I believe doing pastoral year in Bangladesh would open me up more to the internationality of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
It would offer me an opportunity to experience another culture and be challenged by their practice of faith and religion. It would help me to appreciate but also critique my own culture and the different cultures I have encountered so far and so to enrich me with a new perspective to faith and life as a whole. It would also endow me with an opportunity to learn of the different ways the Charism, Spirituality and Mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross has been contextualized and enculturated.
After four months I can firmly acknowledge that gradually I am gaining more understanding of Holy Cross internationality and the living of the Charism, Mission and Spirituality of the Congregation in another culture and region of the world. My spiritual life is continuing to be enriched by life transforming moments of encounter and interaction with Christians, teaching faith and personal prayer. My sense of pride and belonging to the Congregation of Holy Cross has been fostered through the encounter with other members of the congregation in this province and the witness of their hard work and the impact the congregation has had in Bangladesh.
I have had an opportunity to witness and observe the application of the knowledge gained through study of theology to real ministry experiences like liturgical leadership of the faithful and the practice of sacraments. I have had an opportunity of being introduced to the Holy Cross Ministry of teaching through offering English lessons to hostel students. It has been an opportunity for growth in human virtues of confidence especially in liturgical leadership, patience, empathy, open and respectful interaction with those in charge of my pastoral year.
However, I have also observed and experienced some challenges emanating from transition, cultural differences, lifestyle of the people, and the nature of ministries.
The needs of this Province and particularly this parish are still immense. There is still great need for catechesis in this region of the province since our forefathers focused on primary evangelization. There is still a blend of Christianity and animism among Christians. There is a general urgent need for catechists in the entire diocese to assist priests in villages or outstations. Many of our Christians still need motivation to appreciate and embrace education since some are still stuck in traditionalism.
The parish needs sustainable programs to alleviate the financial status and lifestyle of the people. Some of our schools suffer from deficiency of functional and efficient infrastructure to improve the life of the students who come to us for education. The area is prone to natural disasters. In October, we experienced heavy rains and severe flash floods that left many of our Christians homeless and at risk of hunger. Personally, I was displaced from my room for over a week due to floods.
Though trying my best to learn the language, it is still a challenge. Communicating with people and wondering whether you are understood can be draining. Being in a village setting, most of our ministry involve sometimes walking long distances and working longer hours during home visitations throughout the week. This can be tiring. There are cultural shocks related to personal behavior of people, unfamiliar dishes and unique practices relating to worship, funerals and marriage.
The Christians of St. George’s parish amidst their challenges, still bloom with a lot of hope for the future of the Church in Bangladesh. With a deepening of catechesis and education, the Christians will definitely become better Christians and agents of social transformation in their society. The ministry offers a wide range of pastoral experiences necessary for a future minister mainly from the encounter with the people in their homes, groups and at the church. The moments of teaching, community prayer, celebrating and mourning with the people can be grounds of connecting and knowing our Christians better. I therefore encourage members of the Province of East Africa and other provinces reading this reflection to be open to visiting and working in this region of the Congregation. There is surely a lot to learn from each other.
Sem. Bwambale Deusi, CSC
Pastoral Year
St. George’s Parish, Mariamnagar
Sacred Heart Province, Bangladesh
Thank you seminarian Bwambale for the work done in Bangladesh