An ecumenical gathering on the occasion of Christmas and the Christian Unity Octave was held on January 13, 2024, in Archbishop House Conference Hall, Patherghata, Chattogram. This gathering started with an opening speech by the Most Rev. Lawrence Shubrato Howlader, CSC, Archbishop of Chattogram. Following the speech, the introduction session was held. This program was hosted by Mr. Manik Wilver D Costa, Pastoral Coordinator of Chattogram Archdiocese. Bethlehem A.G. Church Associate Pastor Barnova Gomes led the opening prayer. Then Mr. Immanuel Boiragi, the General Secretary of the Chittagong YMCA read from the Holy Scriptures. The keynote speaker, Rev. Ajoy Mitra, the pastor of Kalurghat Baptist Church, preached the scripture of the day.
Then Fr. Regan Clement D’ Costa, parish priest of Cathedral Parish, sacrificed the prayer. At the end, there were some discussions among the representatives present. In the discussion, many pastors explained the word of God and urged for an ecumenical platform. It was decided in the meeting that a WhatsApp group would be created with the membership of pastors and secretaries of the Churches in Chattogram Metropolitan City. The pastors also fixed the schedule of the prayer services for the upcoming Christian Unity Octave, dated from January 18 to January 25.
The gathering came to an end with a vote of thanks by Mr. Ambrose Gomes, Coordinator of the Commission for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue. The ending prayer was offered by Rev. Theophil Chakroborty, Pastor of Oishi Prem Baptist Church.
