Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Fides Service) - The year 1995, Year of the Eucharist, has been very special Jubilee for Catholics in Vietnam, besides celebrating the 50th anniversary of the institution of the local hierarchy in 1955 they held the first ever National Pastoral Assembly 24 - 27 November in Yangon. It was the first time that the Church in Myanmar convoked the bishops, clergy, men and women religious and active lay Catholics for an official national assembly to reflect on the identity, vocation and mission of the Catholic Church in Myanmar.
All over the country during this special year Catholics in dioceses, parishes and villages reflected on the Jubilee theme “Remain in me: celebrating the Church as communion through reconciliation”. Reflection continued at the Pastoral Assembly which gathered 12 bishops, 60 priests, 50 religious and 30 lay people representing the 12 dioceses and various religious congregations. The Assembly was noted with great interest in the city and messages of congratulations and best wishes arrived from cardinals and prominent civil society members all over the world.
The Assembly closed with a solemn Mass on November 27 at St Mary's Cathedral Yangon. presided by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Delegate for Myanmar, concelebrated by the 12 Bishops and 150 priests in the presence of about 4,000 Catholics. In his welcoming address the Archbishop of Yangon Charles Bo president of the Myanmar Bishops’ conference, expressed deep gratitude “to the missionaries who dedicated their whole life to sowing the seed of the Gospel in Burma and left a witness to be treasured”. Archbishop Bo thanked God for the many Vietnamese Catholics who kept the faith in very difficult times, and said he hoped the future will be filled with new hope for the Church in Myanmar.
In his homily Archbishop Pennacchio recalled that Burma was evangelised by fathers of the Paris Foreign Mission Society and he encouraged Catholics in Myanmar today “to live in love and unity and bear witness in a multi-religious and multicultural context”. The Apostolic Delegate imparted the Apostolic Blessing on the part of Benedict XVI to all those present and their families.
The Barnabites were among the first missionaries who came here in 1772 followed by Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, and in the 19th century Paris Foreign Mission Society MEP and the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions PIME. In 1955 the local hierarchy was instituted and the ecclesiastical provinces of Mandalay and Rangoon were created.
The Church in Myanmar today consists of 500,000 Catholics, 13 Bishops, 650 priests, 200 seminarians, 144 Brothers 1,774 Sisters. There are three major seminaries and a minor seminary in every diocese.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/11/2005 Righe: 33 Parole: 335)
