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News from the La Salette Missionaries in Myanmar in March 2022
The La Salette mission in Myanmar is genuinely linked to those original La Salette Missionaries who They traveled west in 1937 and encountered war and so many challenges in their early years. With newer significant events which have happened in our country, I sincerely offer these thoughts as an update.
A Coup D'état, Covid-19 and our mission in Myanmar
In reality, the "Coup d'état" seized power on 1 February 2021. It’s been for more than a year by this time. In parallel to this event of the tragedy caused much violence with many lives into death rates, the Covid-19 happened at the same time until now as we knew in the global alarming - death tools raised in significant numbers in the world also. In Myanmar, our changing political situation and Covid-19 have added to our life’s burdens. Covid alone brought more than 2,000 deaths within only three months.
Read more News from the La Salette Missionaries in Myanmar in March 2022
Myanmar can only be reborn through reconciliation, says Cardinal Bo
Myanmar Coup: A year of violence
Photo: WikiCommons public domain“There is a stalemate. Conflict broke our communities. Rebuilding trust and rebuilding our institutions will be a long arduous task. The conflict is becoming more brutal, the atrocities are more shocking each day. Our people are not resigned. They seek peace with dignity. A country that will be reborn through reconciliation. Violence is not the only way to confront evil, nor is it an effective way. It tends to breed more violence. There is always the path of dialogue, peace and reconciliation.”
Read more Myanmar can only be reborn through reconciliation, says Cardinal Bo
Thousands in Myanmar are on the move and millions are starving
"The Bishops' Conference of Myanmar promotes justice, peace and reconciliation, and strongly requests all stakeholders to facilitate humanitarian access to the suffering and displaced people in order to provide basic humanitarian assistance. Human dignity and the right to life cannot be compromised. We ask with equal force for respect for life, for the sacredness of places of worship, hospitals and schools. All those who do their utmost to help people must be protected and helped." This is according to an official statement issued by the Burmese bishops at the end of their annual assembly held in Yangon from January 11 to 14, 2022.
Read more Thousands in Myanmar are on the move and millions are starving
Cardinal injured, priest dead after earthquake in Haiti
Cardinal Chibly Langlois, Bishop of Les Cayes and president of Haiti’s Bishops’ Conference, has been injured, while a Catholic priest died early in the morning of Aug. 14 after an 7.2 intensity earthquake shook Haiti.
Speaking to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish language news agency, Akim Kikonda, Director for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Haiti, said that Cardinal Langlois "is hurt, but his life is not in danger." Langlois, 62, was created the first Haitian cardinal by Pope Francis Feb. 22, 2014.
Read more Cardinal injured, priest dead after earthquake in Haiti
The patience of the Myanmar Church is being tested
Catholics in Myanmar gather for prayer by candle light"The Catholic Church in Myanmar had been tested through its patience. Our people are lovers of art and culture and very religious. But our people have faced seven decades of great challenges. In recent months: conflicts, Covid, economic collapse and climate disasters. Catholics have suffered a lot. Our churches have been attacked. Many of our people are refugees in our own land": this is what Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) highlighted during the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress, taking place in Budapest from September 5 to 12, 2021.
The Cardinal said to the Assembly:
"I come from a distant land, a small country in the vast continent of Asia, Myanmar. My country, formerly known as Burma, is located in Southeast Asia with a population of 55 million. It is rich in cultures with more than 135 ethnic groups who live together and is often called the 'rainbow nation'. Most of the people in Myanmar are Buddhists. As in most Asian countries, Christianity is also a minority religion in Myanmar. However, we have a very lively and young Christian community that continues to grow in number. Myanmar is blessed with many vocations to the priesthood and religious life".
Read more The patience of the Myanmar Church is being tested
New Liturgical Resources for the La Salette Feast
Over the years we have been celebrating the La Salette Feast with our own approved La Salette Mass from the Vatican and other materials to summarize and emphasize Mary’smessagea at La Salette. Over the past year our Communications Center has been additional liturgical materials to help us do exactly that!
Please look over these two materials that we have recently developed as well as the other helpful materials to explore further the message and meaning of Mary’s appearance at La Salette.
Myanmar Catholic priests, religious and laity fight against pandemic
In Myitkyina, Myanmar, Burmese priests, religious and lay faithful are on the front line to provide medical care to people who have been infected by the Covid-19 pandemic, while the country has registered about 5,000 new cases of infection every day in recent days. In many dioceses the work of solidarity is very extensive and constitutes a precious contribution to the common good.
Fr. Marcian Thet KyawAs Agenzia Fides learned, the Health Commission of the diocese of Myitkyina, in northern Myanmar, has mobilized numerous Catholic volunteers, in this moment of real emergency. Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng, the nun who knelt in recent months to stop the military, who has become an icon of non-violent protest, is among those who wore the gown and protections to conduct the anti-Covid test in the clinic run by the nuns.
Giving their life in service
Sister Ann Rose and the nuns are welcoming the respect and gratitude of many families affected by Covid-19 and of the entire local population, for their dedication. "I am ready to give my life in the service and care of the needy and suffering. I pray intensely to the Lord to save and bless the people of Myanmar", the nun told Agenzia Fide.
Among the various structures, the diocese of Myitkyina has organized a special health center for patients affected by Covid, which provides complete assistance, including the administration of oxygen, to the sick and their families.
Read more Myanmar Catholic priests, religious and laity fight against pandemic
Haitian Bishops urge fraternal coexistence after the assassination
…According to information released by the local press, President Moïse was shot dead around 1:00 am Wednesday, July 7, 2021 by a Spanish-speaking armed group. No further details on the killers or any claims were provided. Acting Prime Minister Claude Joseph, in an official statement issued a few hours later, broke the news, adding that he was taking on the task of leading the country. In the attack, according to Joseph's statement, the president's wife was injured and hospitalized.
Read more Haitian Bishops urge fraternal coexistence after the assassination
Persecution Worsens for Christians in Post-Coup Myanmar
Christians and ethnic minorities in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar are facing increased oppression under the junta that overthrew the civilian government on Feb. 1, 2021 experts said during an online forum. The observers warned of the increased danger of persecution of ethnic and religious minorities including Christians in a July 8, 2021 panel discussion hosted by U.S.-based International Christian Concern.
Read more Persecution Worsens for Christians in Post-Coup Myanmar
Four Catholics killed in military attack on Myanmar Church
Catholics were sheltering in the church due to fighting between the military and the People's Defense Force. Myanmar’s military on Monday fired artillery shells at a Catholic Church in eastern Myanmar, killing four civilians sheltering there. Sacred Heart Church in Kayanthayar Parish near Loikaw, the capital city of Kayah state, a Catholic area was the target of the attack in the early hours of May 24.
All those killed or wounded were Catholics. According to a local resistance member, 8 others were wounded. The Irrawaddy News said the military immediately removed the dead bodies. The roof, ceiling and cross of the church were damaged.
Read more Four Catholics killed in military attack on Myanmar Church