ASIA/MYANMAR - Amidst many difficulties, Burmese Catholics see signs of hope

Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - Life is a struggle against poverty, suffering, restricted freedom. But with small steps the little Catholic community in Myanmar continues its mission. The Church has gradually grown and developed its presence in the region of Kachin, northern Myanmar. In 2006 the Pope created a new diocese Banmaw with territory taken from the diocese of Myitkyina: this means the local Church is experiencing a period of flourishing pastoral work and evangelisation.
It was 150 years ago that the first French missionaries of the Paris Foreign Mission Society arrived in this inaccessible mountain region where the Irawaddy River has its source. The local people belong to various different tribes. Although many died of disease and hardship some of the French missionaries reached Banmaw.
The Catholic community began to grow in the early 1900s and a century later there were 100,000 Catholics in a population of one million. In 1936 the MEP missionaries were joined by Missionaries of Saint Columban who helped with evangelisation and building of churches.
In 1971 church administration moved from Banmaw to the provincial capital Myitkyina. The first local priest Fr Paul Zinghtung Gwang, ordained in 1965, was appointed first local Bishop in 1976. Pastoral care developed with a dozen local priests assisted by catechists who were instructed and then sent to evangelise in the rural villages.
Another local Bishop Philip Lasap Za Hawng was ordained a priest in 1994. And when in August 2006 Pope Benedict XVI created the new diocese of Banmaw (the 14th Catholic diocese in Myanmar) he appointed Raymond Sumlut Gam as Bishop of Banmaw. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/1/2007 righe 28 parole 289)