Dhaka celebrates its first priest from the Oraon tribal community

Christianity arrived in Kewachala only in the 1960s. Since the first mixed marriage and the first baptisms in 1977, the Catholic community has grown thanks to priests and nuns, in particular Fr. Dominic Sentu Rozario and Fr. Gianantonio Baio of PIME. On January 16, Mithun Mathias Ekka was ordained a priest, the fruit of the seed that was sown.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Kewachala is a remote village in the district of Gazipur, north of Dhaka, where Christianity is a relatively recent presence. Until 1961, there were no Christians in the area. The faith arrived there quietly, through family ties, the perseverance of missionaries, and decades of patient pastoral work. And today it celebrates one of its fruits: the ordination of Mithun Mathias Ekka, the first Catholic priest of the Oraon tribe.

From 1980 onwards, the PIME sisters visited Kewachala regularly, opening reception facilities and dedicating themselves to education as well as evangelization. A decisive moment came in 1997 when Fr. Dominic Sentu Rozario began his pastoral work. He chose to live among the people, visiting families, sharing the Gospel, and building a relationship of trust. Gradually, members of the Garo, Koch, and Oraon tribal communities embraced Christianity. Some Protestants also became Catholics due to conflicts within their communities.

In 2004, Italian PIME missionary Fr. Gianantonio Baio arrived and gave new impetus to the mission. With his simple lifestyle, pastoral dedication, and close relationship with the inhabitants, he earned their trust. He focused on infrastructure development, purchasing land and supervising the construction of a brick church and a school, both milestones for Kewachala. Education opened new horizons for local boys and girls, while the example of both foreign and local missionaries inspired many families to seek baptism. Fr. Baio served the community until 2017.

From this once-neglected village, a historic vocation has now emerged. Today, Kewachala has about 1,225 Catholics. On May 11, 2025, it was officially elevated to a full parish, a significant recognition of its growth and stability. On January 16, 2026, Mithun Mathias Ekka was ordained a priest, becoming the first priest of the Oraon tribe in the Archdiocese of Dhaka. His parents, Jagadish Justin Ekka, a former member of the Hindu Oraon tribe, and Alomoni Martha Lakra, embraced Christianity with their three children in 2000. Earlier, in 2020, the community celebrated another important milestone with the ordination of Fr. Biswajit Barman, the first priest from the Koch community.

“We come from an area where Christians are still a novelty,” Fr. Mithun told AsiaNews. “I am the only priest in my village and the first priest from the Oraon tribe in the Archdiocese of Dhaka. God has chosen me to spread the Kingdom of Jesus and to bear witness to Him. I hope to fulfill this responsibility faithfully.”

He recalled that, in addition to his parents, local priests, especially Fr. Dominic Sentu Rozario and later Fr. Gianantonio Baio, played a crucial role in nurturing his vocation. “Fr. Baio was close to me as a teacher, encourager, and true friend. I will never forget his contribution to my life. I am deeply grateful to him,” he said.

Fr. Dominic expressed his joy at seeing the fruits of decades of pastoral work. “We once sowed the seeds of Jesus Christ,” he told AsiaNews. “Local priests and PIME missionaries worked together, and today we have two priests from this community.” He recalled that when he first arrived in Kewachala, poverty and lack of education were the main challenges: “I emphasized education, and gradually the situation began to change.”

Reflecting on his vision of the priesthood, Fr. Mithun said: "My philosophy is to remain faithful to the reforms established by Jesus and to work for Him. I want to be a priest like Jesus: to go to the poor and needy, to walk with them and serve them. A life rooted in prayer, wise leadership in the service of others, and self-sacrifice is the ideal I want to follow."

For Kewachala, the ordination of Fr. Mithun Mathias Ekka is not only a personal achievement, but also a sign that a once-marginalized village has become fertile ground for faith, service, and leadership within the Church in Bangladesh.