Vocation Testimony of an Indigenous Priest - Fr. Dulal Tigga - from Bangladesh with 4 Inspirational Insights about Discernment - PICTURES
Every now and then I ask myself these questions:
What is life? What is the meaning
of my life? I asked myself these questions and searched for answers. I would like to
share my life in four verbs:
1. To be born, 2. to grow, 3. to desire and 4. Accomplish.
1. To be born: I was born in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, in a village where my family was
the only Christian family. The others are Hindus and Muslims. In total there are six
children, four boys and two girls, unfortunately the youngest brother died of an
illness. My other brothers and sisters have married and had sons and daughters. So
my parents became grandfather and grandmother and I became an uncle.
2. Growing up: Although today, fortunately, there is a school in my village; when I
was a child there was none. So during the day, I would stay at home or go to work in
the rice field or play with friends and do nothing else. My aunt, seeing my family's
situation and my future as dark, thought that for my own good and when I was six
years old, she took me to Dinajpur, the nearest small town and took me to the hostel
of the parish of Suihari where there were 350 boys and girls from the different
villages in the surrounding area. I was there to live and so I was able to grow
spiritually and intellectually, so that in the future I could become a good, educated
boy and above all find a good job and be able to help my family. I began my life in
the hostel and grew up with other boys and girls like Jesus who was born in
Bethlehem in a manger and grew up in Nazareth with his parents.
3. Desire: In school I was a diligent student, I got good grades and then I also went to university and graduated with a degree in Management. All my family wished that now that I had finished my studies, I would start working. Unfortunately, my wish was not the same. In fact, ever since I was a child and lived in a hostel, I already felt in my heart the desire to become a priest. So I plucked up courage and phoned home and said to my mother, father, aunt and brothers and sisters: "I would like to enter the seminary, because I would like to become a priest", and they asked me "but will you do it?", I said "I will try". Then they asked me: "but are you happy?" and I replied "Yes, it is my wish". So, they said, "Go." And lo and behold, today I am here with you.
4. Accomplish: My life was not easy at all, in fact I would say that it was difficult because I suffered a lot, I cried. But I have never stopped, never stopped, never disappointed, I have always desired, I have dreamed, I have wanted, I have hoped in 2 myself and in Jesus to finally reach the goal of my life that is to fulfill the desire I had and do good for others as Jesus did. Especially towards the poor of heart and the needy. Testimony of faith: I was ordained a priest on 28 July 23 in Bangladesh, I am a missionary priest of PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions). That is, a priest who leaves his own family, the country and goes to another country to proclaim the Good News (the passion, death and resurrection) and to bear witness to the faith to people who hunger and thirst for the love of Jesus and are in search of this love like the crowd of the Gospel.
Sincerely I would say that as a child I had this hunger and thirst for myself through
the testimony of the faith and life of my parents, brothers and sisters, of the ninth,
relatives, friends, priests, nuns, teachers and all the Christians of the village and the
people of my village. And by you too.
A family receives baptism which is a gift of the Holy Spirit: As I mentioned that
my family was one Christian family. Today I am not mine because during my first
Mass I baptized an entire family where there were father, mother and two children
who are my relatives. I would say this is work, it is a gift of the Holy Spirit who has
awakened faith in their hearts and in their lives through the witness of my family and
other Christians who live in the village.
I would ask for prayers for the people I really meet, they are fragile, humble and
simple. If you don't see and touch, you can't understand their struggle, suffering, joy,
and testimonies of faith in Jesus Christ. Then the smile of the boys and girls,
teenagers, young people, the elderly and the elderly that touches the heart. Every time
I see them, I get excited and moved. Because it makes me think of my childhood, my
family, my effort, my smile.
Truly, every now and then I feel as Jesus felt in his heart when he saw the crowd
following him. At that time Jesus felt a "compassion" and "without a Shepherd"
The same thing I am feeling and experiencing that tells me that they need you, they
need your mouth to proclaim the Word, they need your hands to bless them, they
need my feet to walk with them, they need my heart to love them. The eyes to see the
face of Jesus in their face and in daily life.
I would say that with great joy I enjoyed days with people and families, boys - girls,
young people, the elderly - the elderly.
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Then I also feel this voice of Christ inside me that says: "Feed them yourselves".
Because you have received freely and give freely. Now it's your turn, Fr. Dulal. That
is why I chose St. Paul's phrase for my priestly ordination: "There is more joy in
giving than in receiving" (Acts 20:35) in order to put myself at the service and give
thanks to the Lord. And I pray, "Lord, I am young, please give me wisdom and
intelligence, courage and patience. Give me a pure heart. Because I can serve and
love your people. Lord, bless me, keep me, guide me and never forsake me, stay with
me."
The mission in Italy: I would say that my departure from Bangladesh to Italy was
not easy. I remember the first time in 2017 when I left for Italy, in my heart I had the
desire to reach my goal. At that time, in my heart, in my mind, I had curiosity,
enthusiasm to learn the Italian language, culture, meet people, and so on. And in the
end I was counting the days to go back to Bangladesh, I wanted to see and hug my
parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends.
But this time it's just the opposite. The opposite because I am no longer just a son, a
brother, a friend who is a part; But I am a missionary, a priest who is leaving. I leave
not to study, not to be a tourist, but I leave for the mission, I leave everything: my
family, father-mother, brothers-sisters, relatives-friends and country forever and I go
to another country, other people, families to witness my faith in Jesus to make him
known and share his Word which is the bread of life. And this country, people,
becomes my country, my family. So I don't lose anyone or anything. I find it in
abundance.
With my "Yes" to the Lord, I have given my availability to the service of his
Kingdom and to the Church, that is, I have accepted the Word, I have believed and
now I live it in my daily life.
I can say that I am really living a very important and definitive moment, that is, after
my priestly ordination he has changed many things in life. It all started anew. A new
journey of life and faith has begun. At the same time, I have taken on a great
responsibility not only for myself, but also for others, that is, for you and for the
church that is Jesus Christ himself.For this reason, I ask for your prayers for me so that I may truly carry out the mission that Jesus has entrusted to me.
Don't Be Afraid: A lot of people ask me if I'm afraid. Actually, I'm a bit afraid. But
it's a positive fear, that is, more than fear, I feel joy. However, these emotions don't bother me, nor do they bother me. I left everything in the hands of the Lord in whom
I trust, I believed, I felt love.
Then I am sure that He will not leave me alone. This is my faith and hope. I believe
that from my birth until today He has been with me and He has accompanied me
through you and so many other people who have been close to me and welcomed me
as a son, a brother, a friend. They supported me materially and spiritually. In
moments of loneliness and difficulty they always helped me by giving me advice,
dialoguing, sharing experiences of their lives that encouraged me and gave me the
strength to always go forward and reach my goal, the fulfillment of my desire and
towards the priesthood.
So, I'm thinking about the whole journey and the people I've met, that I've known in
my life since I was a kid until now. Truly, all these people were God's gift and grace. Gratitude: For this reason I too would like to say as Saint Paul says: "I give thanks
to him who made me strong, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he has guided me
trustworthily and put me at his service". Honestly, I would say that I feel it deeply.
And I express my gratitude to all of you on the side of my family and aunt who have
supported spiritually and materially by my ordination.
I confess that I too am fragile, I cannot do anything without the help of the Lord and your prayers and closeness. For this reason, I would ask you to please pray for me and support me until the end of your life as you have done until today. Because I really manage to be so happy, contented and smiling always in the service of others and remain faithful to the Lord. I too pray for. Let us remain united in the prayer and friendship we have built and faithful to our calling. May the Lord Jesus bless us and keep us from all evil and give us Peace.
You are always in my heart and in my prayers. Thank you. Information collected from Rev . Fr. Dulal Babu Sukhen Tigga, Pime
I confess that I too am fragile, I cannot do anything without the help of the Lord and your prayers and closeness. For this reason, I would ask you to please pray for me and support me until the end of your life as you have done until today. Because I really manage to be so happy, contented and smiling always in the service of others and remain faithful to the Lord. I too pray for. Let us remain united in the prayer and friendship we have built and faithful to our calling. May the Lord Jesus bless us and keep us from all evil and give us Peace.
You are always in my heart and in my prayers. Thank you. Information collected from Rev . Fr. Dulal Babu Sukhen Tigga, Pime
Report and pictures from Francis Rony Tirky, Correspondent of Catholic News World
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