Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Loikaw (Agenzia Fides) - The diocese of Loikaw, capital of Kayah state, in the eastern part of Myanmar, welcomed its new Bishop, ordained yesterday on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, with a celebration imbued with faith, hope and emotion: Msgr. Celso Ba Shwe, currently diocesan administrator, will lead the diocese in the future. The solemn consecration service was presided over by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, in the presence of other Burmese Bishops and faithful who - despite the dangers, the difficulty of getting around and the serious situation of civil war, managed to reached the city. "This is a day of miracles. This is the day of hope, this is the day of the triumph of the Spirit, a Spirit of victory of darkness over light, hope over despair, healing over wounds.
Praised be God for this moment. You are all witnesses of God's action in Loikaw today", the Cardinal said in his homily. "That such an event should occur in this place and at this time is one of the greatest miracles of grace," he affirmed. "We are gathered here in the hope that the new bishop will lead us into a land of peace and reconciliation. We now have a bishop who has accompanied his people on their way of the cross," he said, referring to the book of Exodus. Bishop Celso Ba Shwe is "an example of the Good Shepherd", he added, "he is already the shepherd who lives among the sheep and smells the sheep, who knows their tears, their wounds and their scattering". " God did not choose him because of his great oratory skills, but called him to bear witness to the Way of the Cross, to lead him to the glory of resurrection, hope, peace, reconciliation and the reconstruction of communities", he said.
The Cardinal recalled that in the history of the Church in Myanmar, the Church in Loikaw is "like a city placed on high that shines with faith". The children of this community have become religious, priests and missionaries sent around the world to preach the Gospel. As predecessors of Bishop Celso, he named "the tireless Bishop Sotero Phamo" and "Bishop Stephen Tjephe, a simple and gracious pastor", who died in December 2020. In the last three years marked by the ongoing conflict, "the road became his altar as he shared food with the starving; the forests became his soil to proclaim hope; the refugee camps became his community". Among the challenges faced by the new bishop, the task is "to face evil with a strong faith in the living God," said Cardinal Bo, recalling the experience of the Apostle Peter in prison. "The angel led Peter out of prison and led him to salvation. This extraordinary event reminds us that "even in the darkest of times, God is with his servants" and "the bishop, united with God, will be guided in his journey by God and by his Spirit". "The second step," he added, "is to live the 'joy of redeeming suffering' exemplified by the holy apostle Paul. "Jesus is the example. You are the messenger in these times of suffering," he said addressing Msgr. Celsus. The third challenge is "to bring love to a people who have experienced so much hatred": "The life of a bishop is a constant struggle for truth and justice. It requires perseverance, fidelity and an unshakable trust in the Lord's protection " Cardinal Bo said. "Let God be your Good Shepherd in your shepherding mission in these sad times". Finally Msgr. Celso Ba Shwe "will be called to reconcile and rebuild the physical, spiritual and psychological wounds in a painful situation marked by the cruelty of evil". He will be able to do this "with the certainty that we are not building the Church, but Jesus who builds them. Jesus is our companion, our Lord and Master in this undertaking that seems so arduous". Cardinal Bo also mentioned in this context "the role of religious, men and women, healers of the wounded, who give a touching witness of Christian charity", which " is the rock on which the Church of Loikaw will be rebuilt". "Despite all the difficulties and wounds, you are here with the same faith to show the world that nothing can prevent you from being the body of Christ". The Cardinal concluded, addressing the faithful present, "You are the wounded body of Christ, but in the midst of these wounds, like Jesus, you have a great promise of a resurrection of hope. You are a deep inspiration to the whole Church in Myanmar; remember that the Lord is with you in your exodus". The diocese of Loikaw, together with the dioceses of Pekhon, Hakha, Kalay and Mandalay, is among the territories most seriously affected by the ongoing civil conflict. In the diocese of Loikaw, several churches and monasteries are currently being used as camps for internally displaced persons. According to local sources, more than 150,000 civilians in the Loikaw area have been forced to seek refuge in churches, makeshift refugee camps or in the jungle as fighting continues. Loikaw is located in the Burmese state of Kayah, where the majority of the population is Karenni (or Sino-Tibetan) and where Christians make up about 50% of the population. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 30/6/2023)
