A Home and Pilgrim People

On Sunday, January 11, 2026, feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Bishop of Sylhet, His Excellency Shorot Francis Gomes, erected the quasi-parish of Saint Michael the Archangel in Kamudpur, which till now was a sub-centre of the Saint Joseph the Worker parish, in Sreemongol.

Now, the Christian communities of Saint Michael Church have assumed the “form” of a home and path to follow Jesus.

More than 700 people, representatives of the 10 villages that, at the moment, constitute the parochial community, took part in the celebration.

In the occasion of the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, H.E. the bishop baptised six children.

At the end of the Mass, the bishop blessed the statue of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, that will be fixed on the pinnacle of the church’s façade, on the opposite side of the Archangel.

Later on, dances, songs, thanksgiving speeches, and the fraternal lunch for all the assistants completed the joyful day.

Father Francesco Rizzo, novel first parish priest, at the end of the Mass, pronounced the following words:

Your Excellency, Bishop Shorot Francis Gomes, Reverend Father Shaymol James Gomes, parish priest of Sreemongol, dear brothers priests, sisters who attended this celebration. Beloved brothers and sisters,

The constitution of the 10 Christian communities of our church of Saint Michael the Archangel as quasi-parish is for us cause of great joy. We thank the Lord!

We can see in this act of our bishop, H.E. Shorot Francis Gomes, his special love towards this portion of the Church. By constituting it as quasi-parish, our shepherd is taking care of our family. We thank you Your Grace!

It is alive and deep the gratitude of our people towards the great missionaries of the “Holy Cross” Congregation who have been evangelizing this land during more than 70 years. The Kamudpur mission is collecting the inheritance of those holy priests.

We have also to give thanks to our Christians. Even in the middle of big difficulties – poverty, lacks of instruction, lacks of the sacraments of Christian life (in many places, indeed, the celebration of the Eucharist and of the sacrament of Reconciliation could be possible only a few times per year) – they kept their authentic faith, gave testimony of it, and educated their children in the name of Jesus. This new parish is the fruit of your fidelity and perseverance!

I would like to give thanks to my diocese too, the diocese of Ibarra. I would like to remember making present among you, the bishop H.E. Valter Maggi who transmitted me his missionary audacity and sent me from Ecuador to Sylhet diocese – already eight years ran away – and H. E. René Coba, the bishop of Ibarra.

The responsibility of announcing the Gospel and of edifying the Church is today renewed. It is a task of the parish priest and of all the believers. It is joyful and, at the same time, demanding responsibility for which it is necessary to pray for each other. The Archangel Saint Michael take care of our new parish. The ever virgin Mary, the mother of Christ and of the Church, guide our steps on the path of the Lord.