Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Diocese of Joypurhat
Joypurhat (Fides News Agency) - The Catholic community of Joypurhat is “young, poor, but dynamic and closely connected with the indigenous communities.” It is “a sign of the Church’s growth and its outreach to ethnic and rural peripheries,” said the first Bishop of Joypurhat, Msgr. Paul Gomes, in an address to the faithful. The recent establishment of the Diocese of Joypurhat by the Holy See last March reflects the Catholic Church’s continued growth in areas with indigenous and tribal communities and aims to strengthen its commitment to evangelization, education, and social work in northwest Bangladesh.
As Msgr. Paul Gomes notes, in the local diocese, with approximately 24,000 Catholics out of a population of 7.7 million, there are “villages with catechumens who are showing a growing interest in Christianity.” In this context, he explains, the Catholic Church engages with society “through educational, health, and holistic development programs,” pursuing an approach “always focused on inculturation: Our liturgies integrate cultural elements of the Adivasi tribes (language, music, traditional symbols), thereby bringing the Gospel closer to their lives.”
Pastoral care in the diocese, the bishop continues, is strongly socially oriented: “The Church is often the only institution that consistently supports these marginalized communities and assists them in matters of social justice, land rights, and the promotion of human dignity.” The diocesan community is predominantly composed of indigenous believers, particularly the Santal, Oraon, Mahali, Munda, and Paharia.
These communities, the bishop explained, are among the poorest and most discriminated against in Bangladesh: “They live off subsistence farming, work as farm laborers or small farmers, and face widespread poverty, illiteracy, and vulnerability to natural disasters. This situation leads to migration to cities or abroad in search of work.” Indigenous Bangladeshis also frequently experience ethnic and religious tensions with the Bengali Muslim population. In this context, the Catholic Church is committed to the development of these communities through the proclamation of the Gospel, schools, health centers, and microcredit and vocational training programs. (PA) (Fides News Agency, 22/5/2026)
