It is with great sadness that we pass on the news of the death of our dear friend 'Bishop Moses' who died
on Monday.
Bishop Moses was held with much regard at St Augustine's and our parish has enjoyed many years supporting his works in Bangladesh.
Let us join together to pray for his soul, for his family and friends, and for his Diocese at this difficult time.
Let us also share our stories and photos over the coming days - please let us know your memories of Bishop Moses and any photos you may have - email them to the parish office.
Fr Frank will say 2 Masses for the repose of his soul on Saturday 25th July and on Sunday 26th July for those who are able to attend.
Vatican
News announced his death this morning. Here is their report;
Archbishop Moses Costa of Chittagong died on Monday at the
age of 69. Bangladesh's Catholic community is greatly grieved by his
death.
The Catholic Church of Bangladesh is mourning the loss of an
archbishop who died just weeks after recovering from Covid-19.
Archbishop Moses Costa of Chittagong, in south-east Bangladesh, died on Monday
in a hospital in the capital Dhaka, after suffering a series of strokes. He was
69. He became the senior-most clergyman of the Catholic Church of Bangladesh
to die during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Holy Cross archbishop was flown by helicopter in critical
condition and admitted to the ICU of Square Hospital in Dhaka on June 13.
Suffering from severe respiratory distress he was tested positive with
coronavirus the following day. His condition improved significantly and he
tested negative for the virus on June 22. He continued to remain in
hospital for further treatment. However, his condition took a drastic turn
on July 8 and he was transferred to the ICU again. According to the medical
board, he suffered multiple strokes caused by a brain haemorrhage on July 9 and
passed away Monday morning. He will be buried in Chittagong on Tuesday
evening, Chittagong Archdiocesan officials said.
An irrecoverable loss: The
archdiocesan website announced his death saying his passing away has left “all
the faithful in a state of tremendous shock”. “Chittagong Archdiocese is now without a shepherd! The whole Christian
community of Bangladesh especially the faithful of Chittagong Diocese is under
deep sorrow and pain.” “His death is a great loss for the Christian
community as well as the whole of Bangladesh. His death is an irrecoverable
loss for all of us,” the archdiocesan community said. Manik Willver
D’Costa, the pastoral coordinator of Chittagong, commended his archbishop’s
“extraordinary efforts in laying a strong socio-economic foundation for the
Church and revolutionizing the systematic reorganization of Church
apparatus”. In this, Archbishop Costa encouraged a spiritual awakening
and missionary zeal in the clergy, the religious and the laity.
Youth
Formation:
The pastoral
coordinator pointed out that the archbishop’s simplicity and cordial manners
endeared him to others, especially the young people. According to the
late archbishop, Catholic youth formation was not just about teaching, but “a
journey and growing up with Jesus Christ”.
The
Bangladesh Catholic Student Movement, a Church-affiliated youth group called
the late archbishop “a pioneer of the Bangladesh Church and guiding light for
youth leadership,” in a statement.
Archbishop
Costa’s death has sent shockwaves among Bangladeshi Catholics at home and
abroad. Hundreds posted tributes on social media.
Biography: Born
on November 17, 1950, the youngest of 10 children, Moses Costa entered the
Little Flower Minor Seminary of Bandura in Dhaka district in 1963. He joined
the Holy Cross Congregation in 1971, professed his final vows in 1981 and was
ordained a priest on February 5, that year. He served as
assistant parish priest in two parishes from 1981 to 1984. He was sent
for higher studies to Rome, where he obtained licentiate degrees in pastoral
theology and spirituality at St. Thomas Aquinas University in 1986 and in
psychology and counselling at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1989. Back home,
Father Moses taught psychology and pastoral theology at the National Major
Seminary in Dhaka and became director of the Holy Cross Seminary and Holy Cross
Scholasticate. He also became rector of the National Major Seminary and a
member of the Holy Cross Congregation General Council. On July 20,
1996, Saint Pope John Paul II appointed Father Costa as the 6th bishop of
Dinajpur Diocese, where he served until 2011.
Bishop Costa
was appointed the 5th bishop of Chittagong in 2011 and became an archbishop
when Pope Francis elevated Chittagong to an archdiocese in 2017.
The late
archbishop was the secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
Bangladesh (CBCB) and also the chairman of its Commission for Health Care.
Apart, yet together. #ChurchAtHome
No comments:
Post a Comment