The Catholic Church in Bangladesh plans to treat the welfare of families and poverty, as well as environmental protection and migrant welfare, as pastoral priorities in the next decade. New guidelines state that such an approach would “give witness” to the Church in the low-lying nation.

A 12-point ‘mission statement’ was issued at the end of a national pastoral workshop of the Catholic Church held on August 28-31 at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh secretariat in the capital, Dhaka. It was themed ‘Communion: Witness of the Church in Bangladesh.’ Pastoral priorities are to include spirituality of communion in individual, family and social life as well as the formation of faith, evangelization and pastoral services. Also cited was educational opportunities and values formation together with family life and pastoral services to marginalized communities and the poor. Further, priority would be afforded to socio-economic development and self-reliance, inter-religious harmony and Christian unity as well as enhancing religious vocations and services.