Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pyay (Agenzia Fides) - "The priority for our Church is to evangelize. The motto I have chosen for my episcopal service, 'May they have life', clearly expresses this meaning and this need to communicate the love of Christ, who gives life ", said Archbishop Alexander Cho, 62 , the new Bishop of Pyay in the central part of Myanmar, expresses his pastoral intentions in an interview with Fides. Mgr. Cho is known affectionately by his followers as "the American Bishop," as he comes from a pastoral experience in the United States, in the Diocese of Salina in the state of Kansas. From this American experience, he says, "I will try to make the most of this experience, as the good organization and the ability to delegate, elements that can give benefits to the effectiveness of missionary work, contributing to the growth and development of the Diocese of Pyay.
He took office in February, the Bishop spent the first months of pastoral service to get to know the area, to make contacts with the clergy, the religious, lay people, diocesan communities, but also with the social and civil institutions.
"On the pastoral level – he tells Fides after a visit in the diocese - I found a lively community that enjoys sufficient freedom of worship, though the public activities such as processions, must be authorized. On the social level, however, there are several restrictions, but the Church is able to continue its activities to help people. "
His pastoral plan intends: "to give priority to evangelization," to work "on the spiritual renewal and formation of clergy, religious and lay," to be committed "in promoting social and economic life of the population, especially in education."
This is possible even if the Christians in Myanmar, observes the Bishop, are sometimes in a difficult situation, "having to face the challenges of human rights, freedom, justice and peace." But the faithful "accept to be Burmese citizens, share the suffering of other Burmese citizens, and try to work tirelessly in the field of justice and peace, without violence but with love." The Bishop, his followers say, is a person who gives a good example: is patient, merciful, humble, ready to dialogue and to sacrifice for others. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/05/2011)
