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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On 29 June 2020, the Holy Father appointed as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Taungngnu, Myanmar, the Reverend John Saw Gawdy, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently lecturer in the Saint John Vianney interdiocesan major seminary in Loikaw.
The Reverend Msgr. John Saw Gawdy was born on 21 October 1955 in the village of Domapholi, in the parish of Leiktho, in Taungngnu. He belongs to the Kayan ethnic group, and the Gheba tribe. He comes from a Catholic family. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the Saint John Vianney major seminary in Yangon. He was awarded a master’s degree in biblical theology from the Pontifical Josephinum College in Yonker, Ohio, United States of America.
He was ordained a priest on 9 April 1983 for the diocese of Taungngnu.
After priestly ordination he held the offices of director of the Centre of Catechists in Leiktho (1983-1984) and professor of philosophy at the Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Pyin Oo Lwin (1984-1990); he then carried out his studies in the United States from 1993 to 1997. He then served as parish priest of the Church of Leiktho (1993-1997); rector of the Saint Paul minor seminary (1997-2007); vicar general and parish priest of the Church of Leiktho (2007-2016); and since 2017, professor in the Saint John Vianney interdiocesan major seminary in Loikaw, and member of the college of consultors, the presbyteral, pastoral and financial boards, and the diocesan tribunal. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 30/6/2020)
