Posted by Project of the Week on 9/7/2012, 10:09 am
Message modified by board administrator 12/7/2012, 11:05 am

Bangladesh: Help for an educational programme within the Archdiocese of Dhaka Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world, yet at the same time one of the most densely populated - with over 140 million people living in an area of just 140,000 km². The overwhelming majority of the population are Muslims, while less than 1% are Christians. Roughly 300,000 Bangladeshis belong to the Catholic Church in the country, which is served by the Archdiocese of Dhaka and six other dioceses. The overriding goal of the Church here is the spiritual and human formation of the Catholic faithful. Hence the Archdiocese of Dhaka has established a programme for children, young people and adults in all 25 parishes of the diocese. Over the course of three years a wide range of courses will be provided for some 17,000 people. (Children from the Archdiocese of Dhaka will undergo instruction with the help of ACN's Child's bible "God speaks to his children") Using "multipliers" in the parishes and families, the diocese hopes in this way to indirectly reach all the Catholics in the diocese - over 90,000 of them. Included in the plan are dozens of educational courses and life-skills courses, to be offered on a regular basis, for example such things as marriage preparation courses for young adults, seminars on specific aspects of the Church's teaching for married couples and courses for future catechists and parish leaders. Among the programmes to be offered in all the parishes of the diocese there will also be seminars on evangelisation and the vocations apostolate. The Archdiocese has turned to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), asking support for this initiative. Funding is needed for the teaching staff, for accommodation and also for transport, since some of the parishes are over 300 kms or more from the capital. ACN has agreed to provide a subsidy of $25,000 in support of this important educational programme for Catholics in Bangladesh. The vital work of Catholic charities like Aid to the Church In Need provide a lifeline to the Church wherever she is poor, persecuted or threatened. Please help our work by donating online or send your donation to Aid to the Church in Need, PO Box 7246 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153. Ph: (02) 9679-1929