Bishop of Chittagong: Church Present Through Crisis

(12 June 08 - RV) Bishop Patrick D’Rozario leads the diocese of Chittagong, home to 30 million people, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian and one of the worst affected areas in last years Cyclone . He says the Church has been instrumental in helping the communities to rebuild their lives:

“Six districts are in my diocese which have been affected by the cyclone Sidr. Also this year in the Chittagong Hill tracts we have had a pestilence of rats who destroyed 70% of our crops. The Church is present there through caritas and Cor Unam the Holy father has helped me as well as the Italian bishops. We are repairing houses, giving food for 4 months until the next harvest comes in September and also we have given immediate emergency relief. So the Church ahs responded very well, and also the international community after the Holy Father’s appeal they have really come forward to help us, we are showing the love of God to the people of the area”.