As part of Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy, the Catholic Church in Myanmar held a three-day spiritual renewal program for priests, which focused on showing love, mercy and forgiveness towards others.
Some 150 priests from five dioceses in Myanmar participated in the program’s activities which were held in Yangon’s St. Mary Cathedral from May 31 to June 2.
Auxiliary Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Yangon said that the program was not only about priests but was an opportunity for lay Catholics to receive the mercy of God.
“Priests have received love and mercy through their priesthood and they will share that love and mercy with the laity. Priests need to encourage laypeople to attend confession so to receive God’s forgiveness and mercy,” said Bishop Yaw Han, a former rector of St. Joseph’s Major Seminary in Yangon.
“The gathering of priests is a special privilege to share about the joys and challenges of the pastoral care experience and we, priests, can learn from those experiences,” he said.
Bishop John Hsane Hgyi of Pathein said that the happiest time for priests is when they are carrying out pastoral care and interacting with society.
The bishop said the program was a chance for attendees to renew their spirits and to reflect upon their mutual journey of priesthood.
“We receive God’s forgiveness through confession and we also need to share it with the people,” Bishop Hsane Hgyi said.
The 63-year-old prelate also stressed that Myanmar’s priests foster a missionary spirit akin to the foreign missionaries who evangelized the country, some at the cost of their own lives.
“Our priests need to follow the example of the former missionaries who had a strong commitment to sharing the Good News,” said Bishop Hsane Hgyi.
Rose Mary, a laywoman from Loikaw Diocese in eastern Myanmar, said Pope Francis has highlighted God’s mercy and how it can be received.
“The Year of Mercy enables laypeople to concentrate on prayers and to conduct pilgrimages,” said Rose Mary a former coordinator of the Catholic Church’s social arm, Karuna (Caritas) Myanmar.
Pope Francis designated the Year of Mercy, which began on December 8 on the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It will conclude on November 20 on the feast of Christ the King.
There are an estimated 700,000 Catholics and 700 priests in predominately Buddhist Myanmar according to the Catholic Directory of 2016.
This article was written by John Zaw and originally published in ucanews.com. It is reprinted with permission.
