On 3 December, as the Church worldwide marked the Feast of St Francis Xavier, the Church in Myanmar and the Jesuits celebrated the priesthood ordination of three of their men: PV Joseph Cin Hau Mang Buan Sing SJ, Simon Kam Sian Muan SJ, and John Bosco Dim Khawl Thang SJ (left to right in the photo).
It was a special day in the history of the Myanmar Jesuit Region and the Kalay Diocese, which covers parts of the Sagaing Region and Chin State. Peoples’ hearts were filled with gratitude for the wonders the Lord has done through these new priests, the first batch of Jesuits to be ordained in this diocese. Indeed, the Chin mountains and their scintillating streams seemed to dance with joy.
“I am very glad to ordain these three sons of our soil who belong to such Society of Jesus,” said Most Rev Felix Lian Khen Thang, Bishop of Kalay Diocese, in his homily. He noted how Jesuits are known for their “missionary vigour, intellectual fortitude, and theological insights”. He urged them to be like Pope Francis, a Jesuit and a “prophet of this millennium” who has great love for those in the existential peripheries. Like the Pope, the new priests are called to be close to God, bishops, priests, religious, and lay people, to love the poor, the migrants, the displaced, and to care for creation.
It was evident from the best wishes of the two bishops from Kalay and Hakha, priests, religious brothers and sisters, and the people assembled how they desired for the newly ordained priests to be a source of light amidst the darkness of Myanmar, to become healers of their troubled nation, and to proclaim the Good News to the pristine hills of their native region and to the world.
“We are ever grateful to their parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives, whose extraordinary sacrifice reminds us of Mary and Joseph and their struggle to bring their precious gift of God Jesus amidst the darkness of hatred, suffering, displacement, oppression, and human brokenness. All the challenges of recent years have nurtured these three fruits who are ready to love and serve God and all His peoples,” shared Fr Girish Santiago SJ, the Superior of the Jesuits in Myanmar.
“May they sing with their families from their Chin mountains the song of praise with the joyous chorus of the Prophet Isiah,” said Fr Santiago, quoting Isaiah 52:7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”