ABSTRACT
Following their return to Baradal in April 1937 (SAT. 2: 36), the Jesuits decided to reside in Satkhira but always felt a particular concern for the large Baradal community. Many Christians had moved to Satkhira town and other areas and, soon after their arrival, the Xaverians decided to station a resident missionary there. By the end of the ‘special Mission’ preached in Baradal during December 1957, circumstances were favourable and on that occasion, Bishop Battaglierin administered confirmation to sixty-five and announced the erection of the Baradal Rectory, appointing Fr. Seraphin Dalla Vecchia as Rector (SAT. 7: 4). 467 In May of that year, Fr. Seraphin had already moved to Satkhira as Fr. Chiofi’s helper (SAT. 6: 170), and had started visiting the southern area, quickly discovering the ‘hot temperament’ of his future flock, which was enraged against the parish priest. 468 Further visits revealed the presence of many Rishi 469 and some Namasudra 470 ready for conversion. When he asked the Bishop for an engine for his boat, in order to reach the area more easily, Fr. Seraphin made a remark which was to characterise his whole project among the Rishi: ‘Certainly things are not as simple as they might appear, but I am very hopeful’. In fact, his first day of residence in Baradal 471 was disrupted by the Christians with preparations for a Christmas jattra. He soon realised that ‘problems existed previously and will continue to exist’, 472 although a month later, they seemed to him less threatening. 473
