Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pekhon (Fides Service) - In a setting of natural beauty on a hill overlooking Lake Pekhon the Church in Myanmar celebrated important events: the ordination of new deacons and priests and the 25th anniversary of the ordination of the Archbishop of Taunggyi.
At Pekhon a shrine in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes built in 1982 has become a national place of pilgrimage visited by Catholics not only from the archdiocese of Taunggyi but from all over the country particularly in December for ten days around the 8th for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This year once again thousands took part in Mass and processions every day 2-11 December. On December 9 the Catholic community in Taunggyi was particularly happy for the ordination of six deacons by Archbishop Matthias U Shwe.
The next day there was another important event, the arrival of Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio Apostolic Delegate in Myanmar. Crowds lined the streets to wave to the Pope’s representative who was welcomed by Archbishop U Shwe and several other Burmese Bishops. At the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes during a solemn Mass presided by the Apostolic Delegate five new priests were ordained for the archdiocese of Taunggyi. More than one hundred priests, many men and women religious and 15,000 people took part in the Eucharistic Celebration which ended with the Apostolic Blessing to all on the part of Benedict XVI .
The next day Sunday 11 December was again marked by an important event, the 25th anniversary of the Archbishop’s ordination as bishop Some 20,000 people gathered for the occasion. At the beginning of Mass the Apostolic Delegate read out a message from the Pope in Burmese addressed to Archbishop of Taunggyi and presented him with a chalice also from the Pope. Archbishop Matthias expressed his gratitude and spoke briefly about his 25 years as a bishop. The homily was given by Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon, president of the Bishops’ Conference, who dwelt on the figure of the bishop.
At the end of Mass Archbishop Pennacchio addressed Archbishop U Shwe expressing the Pope’s gratitude for his 25 years of ministry as bishop and assuring the people of the Holy Father’s affection and attention for the Church in Myanmar. (Agenzia Fides 19/12/2005 righe 31 parole 312)
