Getting to Know La Salettes in Myanmar

We would like to introduce you to the La Salette Missionaries who are from Myanmar. We are just beginning to recruit young men into our community. In fact, we have just begun our own formation program. Here is a little bit of information about each of us.

Fr. Bernard Taylor, MS was originally a Burmese Diocesan priest who knew the La Salettes while her was growing up. He was ordained and, after a few years, asked his Bishop if he could apply to the La Salette Missionaries, with the hope that he could reintroduce the La Salette Missionaries into his native land at some future time. After many years away from Burma—now Myanmar—our reimplantation happened on Nov 18, 2005. Now Fr. Bernie is directing the establishment of the foundations, among which is to obtain a home and establish a formation program for young men wishing to become La Salettes.

He has been fixing up the “central house” and now it is ready for occupation. With two big rooms and eight smaller ones, this should be enough for the missionaries for a few more years. The big hall-like building will be multi-purpose.

 

Fr. David Kyaw Kyaw Lwin, MS (or Fr. Chotu as he is fondly called by some) is a wonderful addition to the Myanmar community. After studying as the Institute of Consecrated Life in Asia in Quezon City, Philippines, he went to observe how formation programs are done in Vietnam. After he returns, he will be taking the place of Fr. Nicodemus as the Spiritual Director of the St. Thomas Pre-Major Seminary in Mandalay. These are college students preparing themselves to study Philosophy. The Archbishop of Mandalay requested that we give one priest to help in the formation of future priests in the diocese. Fr. Nicodemus began serving in that position two years ago.

Fr. Nicodemus Aung Than Aye, MS fondly called “Fr. Nico”, is preparing his papers in order to join the staff at the Shrine in Attleboro, MA, with the intention of adding to the international flavor of the Shrine. Since the North Americans established the La Salettes in Burma, Fr. Nico, as a sign of appreciation, has volunteered to minister at the Attleboro Shrine. While awaiting his U.S. Visa, he is assisting in exploring the possibilities of establishing a new La Salette mission in Myitkyina, where the La Salette Sisters are. He will also be assisting in publishing a new hymnal in Kachin.

Fr. Valentine San Tun, MS just left for the Holy Mountain at La Salette, France, on May 6, 2010. He will be replacing Fr. Jerome who completed nearly three years on the Holy Mountain. Fr. Val found it difficult to leave the parish in Sinbyu, where he had just begun a banana plantation. He was there for only a few months when he was asked to go to France for three years. Au revoir et Bon Voyage!

Fr. Jerome Eiphan, MS has, since November, been injecting new life into our small community in Myanmar. Almost every Tuesday, he led La Salette community meetings. The culmination of these meetings was a trip together to Anisakhan, a summer resort. Study days were organized and a semblance of a formation policy was finalized. Our meetings were lively and the colder weather helped. Camaraderie and celebration of community were refreshing for everyone. Fr. Jerome has now returned to the Holy Mountain to prepare the way for Fr. Val. He will be returning to Myanmar in November and will make the final preparations for the Postulancy-Novitiate program, which he will be heading with Fr. Philip Naw Aung.
 

Fr. David Kyaw Zwa Latt, MS is the new parish priest of Chanthagone. He is the secretary of the District and has been managing the Mandalay Notes for a few months already. But this year, because of his other ministries, he has asked Fr. Bernie to take care of it this month. He was elected as the president of CRMdy (Conference of Religious in Mandalay) this April. He managed the program for pre-teens (ages 8 to 14) and luckily he only had a klittle over 260 kids. He had to feed them, entertain them, teach them, and form them of with the help of his CRMdy. He managed it all very well. Congratulations.

Fr. Philip Naw Aung, MS just came back from Bangalore, India, where he studied spirituality and counseling for two years. Since he is the only La Salette Kachin native from the Myitkyina area, he has been assigned to probe the possibilities of working in Myitkyina. Meanwhile he has been assigned to the Pre-Major Seminary in Myitkyina as the Spiritual Director. He is the Vicar Superior in the district and will be taking care of the Postulancy-Novitiate program for our candidates sometime next year. He has bought some books from the community in India as they are much cheaper there. They should arrive soon. Even in this age of computers, printed materials are still absolutely necessary.

Fr. Lucas Suan Za Lian, MS is at St. Aloysius of Gonzaga minor seminary in Pyin Oo Lwin May Myo (its old name), the summer capital. The weather is much cooler than Mandalay which is in the middle of the “dry belt”. When it is 100 degrees fahrenheit in Mandalay, it is still in the 80’s in the summer capital. When native La Salettes could not get reentry visas, they would come to the summer capital for a nice vacation. It boasts a beautiful golf course and famous botanical gardens. Fr. Lucas will have his hands full as they will be taking care of the spiritual needs of Sacred Heart Parish. The seminary grounds are very extensive. He will have a lot of opportunity to practice his pastoral skills and still be able to teach English.

Fr. Robert Zaw Lwin, MS has been helping some of the Myanmar Religious in the Philippines to learn with English. With his high grades in Loyola School of Theology in Quezon City, he was singled out to prepare to teach Philosophy. But as the missionaries studied the situation very carefully, they decided that the formation of the candidates as religious is a more crucial need. The preparations for priestly ordinations can come after their vows. The tendency for candidates in Myanmar is to aspire to be priests. The vocation to the Religious Life is put in the background. The only real time to concentrate on Religious Life is during their canonical novitiate.

Fr. Patrick Kyaw Lin, MS may be small in stature but he is the only one among the missionary priests who can start the generator without the help of anyone. He works in his own quiet way. He was formerly assigned in Chanthagone as the parish priest but now takes care of the twin parishes of Myauk Kine and Myitnge. His first parish, Myauk Kine, is a “model village” as prescribed by the authorities. There are monasteries, pagodas, schools and libraries. The Catholics stay in the south western part of the village. His second parish, in Myitnge, is a big town famous for its yards to repair trains. The Catholics are few and spread out.

Fr. Thomas Htang Shan Maung, MS is the first Myanmar to be ordained a La Salette priest in the country. His ordination date was originally postponed due to the demonstrations by the Buddhist monks against the authorities. Luckily the local authorities looked the other way as we celebrated his ordination with Archbishop Paul Grawng, DD. Thomas will be replacing Fr. Lucas in Zawgyi. Even though there was help for the construction of the new church, the funds were defaulted as there was a bank run and the bank never refunded anyone anything. Fr. Thomas will have his hands full in Zawgyi, charged with having to building a small place to house those who are already there. His quiet and unassuming style of leadership should set the pace for the formation for those intending to join the community.

Bro. Nicholas Zaw Moe Aung, MS is the only one who took his perpetual vows in Myanmar. He came in along with Fr. Thomas to start his year of regency. After that he decided to continue his theology at the local Seminary in Yangon. Due to lack of space, he had to stay with the Little Brothers of St. Francis Xavier, a local diocesan congregation of lay missionaries. After having some difficulties due to lack of student space, he took time off to serve as property custodian and bursar (treasurer) for a year in Chanthagone. He is now ready to get back to his studies and will hopefully have a place in the crowded seminary in Yangon. Since the new building for the seminarians was closed by the authorities, some of the seminarians will probably have to sleep on the floors and make do with over-crowded classrooms.

Fr. William Phyo Wai, MS just lost his beloved mother. He was able to be with her during her last hours. Now he is back and will have his hands full. He was assigned to St. Thomas Pre-Major Seminary after his studies in the Philippines. Now he is at Chanthagone as the Director of the Shrine. He is also the new treasurer of the District. He also heads the Volunteer-Aspirancy Program with Fr. Kyaw Zwa Latt. His first challenge is to create a semblance of formation for those who are coming in to observe our way of life. In this busy shrine where many retreatants, pilgrims and others come and go, he will have to teach the volunteers how to be contemplatives in action. Now he is building a small place to house those who are already there. His quiet and unassuming style of leadership should set the pace for the formation for those intending to join our community.

Visit the La Salette Myanmar website for more pictures: http://msmandalay.multiply.com