ASIA/BANGLADESH - More than 10,000 local people, including many Muslims, attend ordination of the new Catholic Bishop of Khulna

Khulna (Fides Service) - Crowds of at least 10,000 including many Muslims attended the ordination of the new Bishop of Khulna in Bangladesh, Bishop Bejoy D’Cruze OMI. The retired Bishop Michael Rosario, the papal nuncio in Bangladesh Archbishop Paul Tschang In-Nam, and Archbishop Michael Rozario of Dacca and about 150 priests concelebrated at a three hour Mass on 6 May at Khulna Catholic Cathedral. The Ordination Mass was followed by a reception and cultural evening.
The new Bishop known for his warm smile and cheerfulness chose for his motto “The Lord is my joy”. In a message to the Bishop for his ordination Superior General Oblate Missionaries of Immaculate Mary Fr. Wilhelm Steckling said: “This ordination fills us all with great joy. Oblate Missionaries have been present in Bangladesh for over 25 years thanks to the response of the local people to our work of evangelisation, our community has grown”.
Bishop D’Cruze, aged 49, entered the Oblate Missionaries of Immaculate Mary in 1983 and was ordained a priest in 1987. He has a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome and until now he was OMI Superior in Bangladesh.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/5/2005 righe 23 parole 256)