Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) – A great source of hope for the Catholics and indeed all the people of Myanmar: the recent ordination of four priests in the archdiocese of Yangon, two of whom will be missionaries ad gentes, local Church sources told Fides. The ordination took place on 2 May, a date which coincided with the second anniversary of cyclone Nargis in 2008 which left 140,000 people dead and vast damage. All the victims were mentioned in the prayers during the Mass and the local Catholic Church took the opportunity to reaffirm commitment, past, present and future for rehabilitation and rebuilding.
The ordination of four new priests is “an event of grace in this Year for Priests”, a local source told Fides. The Mass celebrated in Santa Maria Cathedral, was presided by the Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, in the presence of the Archbishop of Yangon, Mgr. Charles Bo, and more than 2,000 faithful.
The Archbishop announced that 2 of the newly ordained will be sent as fidei donum priests to the Solomon Islands to serve in the diocese of Gizo, at the request of the local Salesian Bishop, Mgr Luciano Capelli, “in a spirit of love and sharing, in union with the whole of the mission of the Church”. This is the first time that the archdiocese of Yangon sends fidei donum priests to the little Church in the Pacific: “Despite difficulties and hardships– said the Archbishop– the Church in Myanmar intends to grow in missionary commitment”.
During the Mass prayers were offered for the victims of the cyclone Nargis. When the tragedy struck in 2008 the whole of the local Church rallied to offer assistance, but especially the Archdioceses of Yangon and Pathein. The Archbishop recalled the wave of solidarity activated by Karuna, Caritas Myanmar in collaboration with the Rome based Caritas Internationalis. Work continues to rebuild homes and infrastructures, to help the people affected, mainly fisherfolk and farmers, resume a dignified life. Another important sector of Church activity is psychological post-trauma assistance especially for traumatised children and young people. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/5/2010)
