Name: Father Lawrence Noresh Das, CSC

Position: Seminary Work/Justice & Peace Coordinator
Location: Bangladesh
Date of Birth: 1966

Born into a peasant family — one of 11 children — Father Lawrence Noresh Das overcame war and poverty to obtain an education. By combining religion and law, he has found a way to bring justice and peace to people of less fortunate circumstances.

Here is his story . . .

I was born in a remote and primitive agricultural village named Dhormopur Baniapara on January 31, 1966. I am the first child among 11 children in our peasant family.

Prayer and Perseverance Makes Education a Reality
I started schooling with great vigor and enthusiasm in 1971. But, when war broke out in the country, I missed two years in my academic career. When I was able to return to school, I had to overcome much difficulty. Education was not valued in my area and there were very few schools. But I was determined to study because I wanted to be a priest.

In 1978, I was admitted into St. Philip's High School. It was very competitive; only a quarter of the candidates were accepted. My only hope was prayer. Fortunately, the boarding master gave me the option to take an oral test. My perseverance paid off and in 1983, I graduated from a minor seminary in Dinajpur.

I graduated in 1985 from a college in Dinajpur and after the intermediate examinations, I was sent to "Shantiniketan" (the home of peace), a center in Jalchatra parish for a spiritual formation course. Those who passed the course were asked to complete their studies at Ramna seminary. I was one of the selected ones, and I graduated in 1987 from Notre Dame College in Dhaka. From there I was sent to Banani National Major Seminary for my priestly formation. Upon completion, I was asked to study law by the superior of the congregation of Holy Cross. I graduated from a law college in 1999, and I received my membership in the Dhaka judge court to practice as an advocate for a year.

Religious Studies Parallel Legal Studies
The life example of Father Thomas Zimmerman, CSC, and the community life of this congregation attracted me. I joined the congregation in 1990, while I was in my third year of study at the Major Seminary. After this year, I was sent to the Novitiate and pronounced my first vows on January 24, 1992. I finished my studies at the Major Seminary was ordained a deacon in 1995.

In 1999, I had the opportunity to help Father Richard Timm, CSC, in his human rights office. I found this work interesting and was encouraged to get further training. In the second half of my diaconate, I was sent to Pirgaccha parish to work with Father Eugene Homrich, CSC who has been serving this country more than 40 years. He has spent much of his life working with the Garos of Mymensingh diocese. These people are aboriginal and suffer from poverty and injustice. This is a terrible situation and I felt a call to defend human rights.

Serving the Poor and Less Fortunate
I was ordained a priest on January 10, 1996. It was a cold and foggy day but a golden day for me. After my ordination, I was assigned to Srimangal parish. This parish has many kinds of tribal people. They have their own language, culture, history, and food habits. These people work in the tea gardens for very low wages-less than half a dollar a day. The literacy rate is low, and education is not available. The most pitiful sight is that these simple and humble people are suffering from extreme poverty and at times are being harassed. I was given an opportunity to take a stand for them, and I had a good number of enriching experiences during my stay there.

In the meantime I was assigned to work as the secretary in the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Bangladesh. In 1999, I was transferred to the Narinda Holy Cross Aspirancy to be the assistant director along with my justice and peace activities and the work of vocation promotion through Holy Cross.

I believe that through justice and peace activities we can make our prophetic role visible to the people of God. Currently, to create public awareness and the capacity for defending human rights, classes are being given to groups of different ages, articles are being written in the Catholic weekly magazine, the "Pratibeshi," and a series on legal aid is being prepared according to the context of the country. I request your prayer and moral support as we continue this ministry. May the rights of a voiceless people be defended and peace be established in the country and the world at large.

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