Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Fides Service) - To carry the Gospel in the spirit of St Francis to the people of Myanmar, mountain people in particular, a community of Friars Minor will soon open a new mission in Yangon the capital. The mission will be run by a fraternity of three comprising Fr. Jimmy Yakit from the Philippines, Fr. Pierre and Fr. Jean-François from Vietnam. They will later be joined by other friars from Philippines, India and Indonesia.
In keeping with the charisma of Saint Francis the friars wish to promote peace and reconciliation in a country suffering from serious social unrest and tension, and clashes between government troops and some ethnic minority communities.
According to a report from the General Curia of the Fraris Minor, the new fraternity, ready to start pastoral service in Myanmar, met recently in Bangkok Thailand to start preparation and make some first contacts. “The new missionaries are preparing with prayer, striving to deepen their Franciscan missionari spirit and mutual knowledge considering that they come from different cultures”, the Order said.
In Myanmar the Franciscans will help with local pastoral care and spiritual animation of clergy and religious. The mission will also offer initial Franciscan formation in view of planting the Order of Friars Minor in the region. Fr. Jimmy has already visited Yangon where he met Archbishop Charles Maung Bo and the Missionary Sisters of Mary who helped prepare the new mission for the Friars Minor.
Myanmar has a population of 49 million, 72% Buddhist, 12.6% Animist, 8% Christiian and 2.4% Muslim.
According to Catholic Church statistics in Myanmar there are 609,000 Catholics, gathered in 12 dioceses, assisted by 18 bishops, 535 diocesan priests, 29 religious priests, 95 Brothers and 1,454 women religious. There are 470 lay missionaries and 3,249 catechists. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/7/2005 righe 27 parole 271)
