ASIA/MYANMAR - The mission of the Church in a changing country: at the centre education and social services

Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - "The Church's mission is to help people realize their potential. We can help provide quality education to society. Our strength is in services, education and health care, which we want to put at the service of the country, for the common good": this is how Archbishop Charles Maung Bo, SDB, Archbishop of the capital, Yangon, and Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Myanmar traces, in an interview with Fides, the Catholic Church's commitment to the future of the country, in this phase when the nation is going through important changes.
The Archbishop gives us a symbolic example: "The Cathedral of Santa Maria, in Yangon, is 100 years old. It is the symbol of the history of Christianity in this land. It has survived severe damage and disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and bombings. In a country with millions of pagodas, this church, in the center of the main town, proclaims the message of Christ. Christians begin the new millennium and live this historic phase with hope and optimism".
"The Catholic Church - he says - is a small minority without power. This has not stopped us to continue our mission and to be present in society, in a discreet but effective way". "In fact - remarks Mgr. Bo - we are the only community, apart from the army, widely present throughout the country. The Church embraces all ethnic groups. In many remote parts we are the only group to reach people in their pastoral needs, education and health care. We are one of the few encouraging examples of how an indigenous Church has survived despite stifling constraints". The Archbishop recalls some painful steps and the growth of the community: "The missionaries were expelled in 1966. Our best resources were nationalized. Schools and hospitals were stolen and we became poor overnight. Nevertheless evangelization and the care of the people have gone ahead. We have gone from 8 to 16 dioceses. From 300,000 Catholics, we are now 750,000. From 150 to 750 priests, there were 400 nuns, now we are 1,600. We have hundreds of catechists. All the dioceses have their own Caritas networks, pastoral and social activities". Today, in a nation that is changing, the Church - he concludes- intends to be "a resource for the future of the country". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/11/2011)