DHAKA – Local indigenous Catholics in Bangladesh have high expectations for the first bishop of their country’s new diocese – the ninth to be erected – in which a great number of indigenous people live and practice the faith.

On June 5, at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Beneedwar, Bishop Gervas Rozario of the northern Rajshahi diocese consecrated Father Paul Gomes as the first Bishop of Joypurhat, composed of 11 parishes, with more than 24,000 Catholics.

Pope Leo XIV erected the diocese in March of this year, from territory taken from the diocese of Rajshahi and the diocese of Dinajpur, and made it a suffragan see under the capital archdiocese, Dhaka.

Bishop Paul Gomes told Crux Now he will work to improve both the spiritual life of the Catholics in the region and their quality of life generally. He also said he is counting on the help of the faithful and the clergy – eight diocesan and seven religious priests serving in the diocese.

“The Bangladesh Church knows that the people of this area are poor and neglected in many ways,” Gomes told Crux Now. “For this,” he said, “we see the construction of educational institutions, improving healthcare, and working on human rights in this area as a priority.”

To hear the faithful of Joypurhat tell it, the vision Gomes outlined for Crux Now is aligned with their hopes.

Raphael Munda, 36, a local ethnic tribal Catholic who was present at the bishop’s installation program, told Crux Now he hopes the new local Church will be a powerful force for evangelization and social justice.

“We have got a diocese,” he said, “we have got a new bishop: Now, we want a beautiful Christian society.”

“I want the church to work not only on spirituality; but also on the rights of its people,” said Munda. “The Catholic community should establish equal rights among itself and speak out against state injustice,” he said.

Less than one percent of Bangladesh’s 180 million people are Christians, and more than half of them belong to various ethnic indigenous communities.

Far from having equal social and political rights, indigenous people of Bangladesh are often victims of persecution. In particular they are often deprived of land rights and denied or limited in their pursuit of learning, amid other injustices they frequently suffer.

“Without the Church’s help,” Munda told Crux Now, “the indigenous could not have been educated.”

Swapna Mardi, 39, a Catholic woman and mother of two who works at a local private company in Joypurhat, believes that it is time to become aware of the rights of the tribals and that the Church should stand by these oppressed people.

“I think that if people are educated, they will be aware of their rights, but the path of education has to be shown. So, the church should stand by the poor and state-neglected indigenous people, educate them and make arrangements for their fair rights,” Mardi shared with Crux Now.

The new diocese has 14 missionary-run schools and 3 dispensaries for healthcare.

The newly formed Joypurhat diocese has named the parish of Our Lady Help of Christians in Khanjanpur, adjacent to the district town, as the pro-cathedral.

After the consecration ceremony, the apostolic nuncio to Bangladesh, Archbishop Kevin Randall, offered expressions of gratitude and well wishes to Bishop Gomes on behalf of the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV.

“You have been ordained as a bishop in response to the pope’s call, said the papal ambassador. “Thank you,” he said, and urged Gomes to ensure the participation of all in fostering a synodal Church.

Gomes was born on September 3, 1962 and was ordained as a priest on December 29, 1992.

The 64-year-old Gomes has been doing pastoral work in various parishes throughout his priestly life. He has also served as seminary rector in different formation houses.

“Our goal,” said Gomes, “will be to spread the word of God, serve the Church, build a participatory Church, and establish social security and peace.”