Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - The Jesuits in Myanmar intend to be "companions for indigenous peoples", is what the religious said in a recent meeting dedicated to the Pastoral ministry of indigenous communities, held in the diocese of Phekon.
In the country there are 135 ethnic communities, which make up one third of the national population, around 56 million people. The largest minority groups, present in Myanmar, are the Shan (9%) and Karen (7%), while the others, together, account for about 5% of the population.
As reported to Agenzia Fides in a note by the Jesuit Conference of Asia-Pacific, the Jesuits resident in the former Burma have faced the challenges of their context, talking about the situation of ethnic and religious minorities in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, starting from the theological references in the documents of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC). Since the Jesuits in Myanmar have pastoral relationships with several indigenous communities, the basic idea of the meeting was to improve the pastoral care and evangelization.
At the end of the meeting, the religious recognized that "despite the widespread phenomenon of urbanization, the life of the indigenous community is still the best way to live, because in harmony with nature, with the cycle of life, with creation, with other human beings". The participants also mentioned the preciousness of the "traditional wisdom" primarily for the benefit of future generations. The pastoral service to the indigenous, therefore, will be able to exploit this wealth of local and traditional cultures, giving the witness and proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.
The Society of Jesus is settling in Myanmar, the first local Jesuit priest was ordained in 2013 and two more were ordained in 2014. Other religious are completing their studies in Indonesia and the Philippines. There are currently Jesuit missionaries in Myanmar from Australia, Korea, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/10/2014)
