Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – A great celebration of prayer and sharing among bishops and priests: this is how the Catholic Church in Myanmar, united heart and mind with the Holy Father, Benedict XVI and the universal Church, celebrated the opening of the Year of the Priesthood, on 19 June.
The ceremony held in Yangon and presided by the Archbishop of Yangon, Archbishop Charles Maung Bo, was attended by several other bishops, about a hundred priests, religious and lay Catholics.
The event was preceded by a day of spiritual retreat, for the Catholic clergy on the theme “The image of the priest today”: reflection focused on the role, commitments and challenges which the priest encounters in his vocation and mission, and especially in the context of Myanmar today, where the Catholic Church is a small minority and pastoral activity meets difficulties and restrictions.
The celebration to open the Year of the Priesthood, was preceded by the unveiling of a statue of Saint Jean Marie Vianney, proclaimed patron saint of priests. This was followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the reading of the Holy Father's Letter addressed to all Catholic priests on this occasion.
Archbishop Bo illustrated and explained to contents of the Letter, referring frequently to the life and the work of the saintly Cure of Ars. The Archbishop urged his priest to pray with the words of the saint and to take his life and his spirituality as a continual reference.
In the afternoon there was a Eucharistic Celebration with about 80 priest concelebrants and the participation of more than a thousand faithful. During the Year of the Priesthood the Catholic Church in Myanmar intends to intensify vocation pastoral and ongoing formation for the local clergy. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 22/06/2009 righe 23 parole 243)
