Jerome D'Costa is credited for his contribution to Christian literature, history, and culture
Jerome D'Costa, 75, Bangladesh-born Catholic writer and journalist passed away in Canada on Nov. 6. (Photo: Bangladesh Catholic Association of Ontario)
Catholics in Bangladesh are mourning the death of prominent Catholic author and journalist Jerome D’Costa who passed away on Nov. 6 at the age of 75.
D’Costa died due to respiratory complications, his family members said. He has been living in Canada with his family since 1997.
He leaves behind his wife and three sons.
D’Costa is credited for his contribution to Christian literature, history, and culture through journalism, translation, editing, blogging, and social activities since Bangladesh became independent in 1971.
He was born in 1947 in Gazipur district and his family belonged to Sacred Heart parish in Bhawal region, a Catholic stronghold in the Archdiocese of Dhaka.
He joined a seminary to become a priest but left the formation in 1966. He later studied journalism at Dhaka University and Communication Arts in the USA in 1977.
He was the editor of Bangladesh’s only national Catholic publication WeeklyPratibeshi (Neighbor) from 1981-1983. He is the only layperson to serve as editor of the 82-year-old publication.
He also worked for international Catholic news services such as UCA News and the India-based South Asian Religious News.
D’Costa worked as the public relation officer for the Catholic charity Caritas Bangladesh and as the communication manager for the development agency World Vision Bangladesh (WVB). He later became an Associate Director of WVB.
In 1988, he published a 595-page book, Bangladeshi Catholic Mondoley (Catholic Church in Bangladesh), the first book on the history and growth of the Catholic Church from the arrival of Portuguese Catholic missionaries in the late 16th century to the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1986.
“Caritas Bangladesh’s promotion came from his hands through effective communication. He took the first step to promote the Bangladesh Catholic Church to the world by engaging with UCA News,” said Benedict Alo D’Rozario, president of Caritas Asia and former executive director of Caritas Bangladesh.
D’Costa worked to modernize the Catholic weekly he edited. He taught many young people to write effectively and precisely,” said D’Rozario, a former member of the weekly’s Editorial Board told UCA News.
D’Costa also worked as secretary of the South Asian Catholic Press Association for eight years and was its president for two years until 1995.
Father Joyanto S. Gomes, a former editor of Weekly Pratibeshi, said D’Costa was a guru to many Catholic writers and journalists.
“His legacy as a writer and editor will last forever,” Father Gomes, former secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Social Communication Commission, told UCA News.
Although he left Bangladesh in 1997, he was always ready to support the Church, he said.
D’Costa also translated many books into Bengali during his lifetime. Among them are — Christian Theology Handbook, SecondVatican Council Document – Social Instruction, Introduction to the New Testament of the Bible, Charles de Foucault,Hero of the Desert, Come to Jesus, Power Relations in Rural Development: Bangladesh Relations.
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