December 13, 2011: Newly installed Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario of Dakha, Bangladesh,
greeted parishioners and people from across the country during a public welcoming
reception last weekend at the Archbishop’s House in the capital. The reception,
which drew about 5,000 guests including government officials and interdenominational
leaders, also served as an opportunity to thank outgoing Archbishop Paulinus Costa
for more than six years of service. The new archbishop outlined a mission of unity
and prayer during the ceremony. “As a religious priest, I’m entrusted to serve people,
preach the truth in society and become the voice of conscience, establishing unity
and harmony among followers of various faiths, praying to God for everyone,” he read
from a written statement during the reception. Archbishop Costa extended his gratitude
to parishioners for their support during his tenure. “I’m very lucky because though
I’m unworthy, I’ve been blessed with so much love of God and people,” he said. Shahjahan
Mian, state minister for religious affairs, congratulated the two prelates and urged
all in attendance to work diligently to achieve harmony and peace. “Bangladesh
has set a living example of interreligious harmony in the world, and religious leaders
have made great contributions to achieving this feat. We will work together to sustain
communal harmony and that’s why the government has reinstated ‘secularism’ in the
country’s constitution.” Holy Cross archbishop Patrick D’Rozario was born on October
1, 1943 in Padrishibpur village in southern Barisal district. He was ordained on January
8, 1971, as the first Catholic priest in newly independent Bangladesh. Pope Benedict
XVI appointed him coadjutor archbishop of Dhaka on November 25 last year. He was installed
January 25 and assumed the office on October 22, when Archbishop Costa reached the
official retirement age of 75.