Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - On 2 December the Catholic community in Burma gathered in Santa Maria Cathedral for the ordination of the new Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon, Bishop Justin Saw Min Thide, age 56. The Ordination Mass was presided by the Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Salvatore Pennaccho and concelebrated by Archbishop Charles Maung Bo of Yangon and Archbishop Paul Zingtug Grawng, of Mandalay, in the presence of many bishops from elsewhere in Myanmar, and from Malaysia e Thailand, 300 priests, 550 religious and an enthusiastic crowd of 5,000 faithful
The Liturgy was very touching with prayers and hymns and deep devotion. In his homily Archbishop Pennacchio, underlined the value of the season of Advent, and he encouraged those present to “watch and be ready to welcome the Lord who comes”, that He may be “King, in the life of each of the faithful”. The Apostolic Delegate explained the symbols of the ordination: the consigning of the Gospel, the ring, the mitre and the pastoral staff. Commenting the new Bishop's motto “Fiat voluntas tua”, which means willingness to do the will of God, like the Blessed Virgin Mary, Archbishop. Pennacchio urged the people to welcome with gratitude the new Bishop who will undertake his pastoral duties for the good of the flock.
The Ordination Mass was followed in the afternoon by an artistic-cultural spectacle in honour of the new Bishop presented by various parishes and communities in the archdiocese.
The archdiocese of Yangon has about 85,000 Catholics ( 14% of the Catholics in Burma), gathered in 47 parishes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/12/2007 righe 26 parole 263)
