Diocese of Sylhet

Bishop: Most Rev. Shorot Francis Gomes, DD

Date of Birth and Place : 15.12.1965
Vill. Hashnabad, Hashnabad Parish
Dist. Dhaka
Ordained to Priest : 31.05.1991
Elected Asst. Bishop of Dhaka : 08.02.2016
Consecrated Asst. Bishop of Dhaka: 22.04.2016
Appointment as Bishop of Sylhet: 12.05.2021
Installation in Sylhet : 20.07.2021
Address : Bishop's House,
Porgona Bazar
P.O. Khadim Nagar,
Dist. Sylhet – 3103
Or
Bishop's House,
Porgona Bazar
P.O. Khadim Nagar, Box no. 75
Dist. Sylhet – 3100
Mobile : (00 88) 01712213069
E-mail : bpshorot2016@gmail.com
Total Area : 12,594 Sq. Km.
The Diocese of Sylhet has under its jurisdiction, the Civil Districts: Sunamganj, Sylhet, Hobiganj and Moulvibazar
Languages Spoken : Bangla, English, Khasia, Garo, Santali, Orao.
Catholics : 19365

Brief History: Sylhet was erected a Diocese with the promulgation of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on 8 July, 2011. Bishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze, OMI who was the Bishop of Khulna for about six years (2005-2011) was installed as the first Bishop of this Diocese on 30 September, 2011. In 2020 Bishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI was appointed as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dhaka. On 12.5.2021 Bishop Shorot Francis Gomes was appointed as Bishop of Sylhet and was installed on 20.07.2021. This Diocese consists of four civil districts namely Sylhet, Sunamgonj, Hobigonj and Moulvibazar covering 12, 594 sq. k.m. The total population is about 10 million. There are about 19365 Catholics.

Sylhet is the most tea cultivated area of Bangladesh. The cultivation of tea was initiated by the British in 1850s. There are about 225 Tea-Estates in Sylhet Division and about 700,000 people (mostly indigenous Hindus from 40 groups) earn their livelihood working in the tea estates. A small number of the tea estate workers are Christians. Besides there are Khasis and Garos living in the hillocks of Sylhet cultivating betel leaf for their livelihood. During the rule of British, the Catholics of the Tea-Estates, Khasi and Mandi indigenous groups were given pastoral care from Assam (India). After the partition in 1947, it was not possible for a Priest to come to East Pakistan from India. Therefore, the pastoral care of the entire area of Sylhet was given to the Archdiocese of Dhaka. Archbishop Lawrence Graner, CSC sent Fr. Vincent Delevi, CSC to visit the area and see what the Archdiocese had inherited. Fr. Delivi toured the vast area and found around 700 Catholics who were from the tea estates and the Khasi punjees. The baptism register copied from Assam showed the record of 903 baptisms since 1910.

Fr. Delevi, CSC established the first Parish in 1950 at Srimangal. On the following year 1951 the second Parish was established in Mugaipar by the Archdiocese of Dhaka and was handed over to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) later. The Oblate Fathers are taking pastoral care of the parish till February 06, 2022. This parish is hand over to the Diocese of Sylhet, therefore, the diocesan Priests are taking care of this parish. With the arrival of the Oblate Fathers the pastoral care of this vast area was being enhanced and in 1975 Khadim Nagar parish was established and again in 1985 Lokhipur became a separate Parish. In 2010 Barlekha parish was established separating it from Lokhipur. At present there are seven parishes and a Mission Centre in the Diocese. The Oblate Fathers are taking pastoral care of three parishes, namely: Khadim Nagar, Lokhipur and Barlekha. The Holy Cross Fathers look after Srimangal Parish, the biggest Catholic populated parish in the Diocese. The other three parishes namely Jaflong, Rajai and Mugaipar are looked after by diocesan priests. Four male and eight female congregations are serving the Sylhet Catholic Diocese. The priests and religious are all together about 65. This new Diocese has 4 local priests, the Archdiocese of Dhaka gave two more local priests and a Priest as Diocesan missionary comes from Ecuador (originally from Italy) to serve this Diocese.