On September 29, St Michael’s Parish in Nanhlaing village in Banmaw Diocese was formally entrusted to the care of the Jesuits. The handover ceremony was timed to coincide with the feast of the parish patron saint, St Michael the Archangel.
The Diocese of Banmaw is situated in the southeastern part of Kachin State, at the frontier of Myanmar with China. For the last six years, a war has been fought there by the majority Burmese government army against the Kachin Independence Army.
During the mass, Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam explained why he had asked the Jesuits to cooperate in the diocese. “The war on the Kachin people has affected us severely, displacing some 120,000 people, of whom 12,000 are Catholics from this diocese. Of our 13 parishes, nine have been damaged by conflict. We have 25 priests, but since some are old and some are sick, some priests have to care for two parishes.”
In his welcome to the Jesuits, Bishop Raymond quoted St Paul’s words to the Romans: “Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory.” (Rm 15:7 )
“We deeply appreciate the positive response of the Jesuit fathers to my invitation, their willingness to be a part of this struggling Church,“ he said.
Two young Myanmar Jesuits have been assigned to the parish. Fr Joseph Aik Maung SJ, who is from Banmaw Diocese, has been appointed Parish Priest while Deacon Mar Tay SJ, who will be ordained priest in February next year, will be Assistant Parish Priest. Already they have committed to a three-day programme for the formation of young adults, followed by a four-day programme for 150 catechists in the parish.
The Jesuits have been working in Banmaw Diocese for about four years. Fr Chinnappan Amalraj SJ has collaborated with the diocese on pastoral planning, Fr Aik Maung has supported the diocesan administration and pastoral services in various ways, and Scholastic Joseph Zaw Goan SJ worked in the diocese for a while to assess the situation of the internally displaced persons.
Fr Mark Raper SJ, Superior of the Myanmar Jesuits, expressed appreciation for the warm welcome the Jesuits have received from the diocese.
“Rather than coming occasionally to assist, we now are able to put down roots among the Kachin and Shan people,” he said. “This parish offers a formative opportunity for us all, especially our young Jesuits, to engage in the day-to-day lives of people and to learn another national language, while providing a base to contribute to the diocese in various ways such as the formation of the young adults.”
Built by a French missionary, St Michael’s Parish Church is more than 100 years old. It is one of the oldest parishes in the diocese. Many of the parishioners, approximately 231 families, or some 1,338 souls, are Kachin, although a significant number are Shan.
The parish has a boarding house for boys, a parish rectory and a parish hall, but they are all in rather poor condition. The church has been restored recently, and the nursery school and small clinic run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary are in good condition. However, a boarding house for girls managed by the sisters is in disrepair.
“The parish entrusted to the Society is committed to fully support the pastoral policy and directives of the Diocese,” said Fr Raper, emphasising that “the Society of Jesus is committed to the promotion of faith and justice, interreligious harmony and care of the earth”, which are also priorities articulated in the Banmaw Diocese pastoral plan.