“Go…into your high schools, colleges and universities, and advocate for the faith, speak of God, tell the young people about Jesus and his resurrection from the dead”, said Bishop Robert Barron to young Jesuits in Chicago.
Indeed, the second national Magis Myanmar gathered 130 young men and women from all our Jesuit institutes and parishes, and across the 16 dioceses of Myanmar. In order to build the three pillars of magis – spirituality, companionship and service – in the lives of the Magis youth, the mega-event lasted from April 11 to 18.
The first three days were spent learning about Ignatian spirituality, the challenges of today’s Christian youth and the Church. Cardinal Charles Bo SDB spoke about the “The Church and the Youth” laying strong the pillars of spirituality, which was further strengthened by talks, faith sharing in the Magis circle and reflections.
“The Magis Circle is a sacred moment to share about one’s life journey”, said Ellin Khyu Khyu. “Through the sharing of my companions, I learned that everyone has his/her own joys and sorrows.”
“Initially, I thought it was a waste of time doing the Examen twice a day. Nothing is new in life. However, during the immersion, I came to realise how the Examen has helped me to know more about myself and how God speaks to me through people”, said Alexander.
Maria San May has participated in several local and national youth camps in Myanmar for the past 10 years, but she considers Magis to be different from the rest. “It teaches us about the stark reality of life”, she said. “It has great hope and trust in the power of the youth to send us out into the world.”
The climax of the programme was the Ignatian immersions. The participants were divided into 12 groups that either went for a pilgrimage covering a distance of 95 kilometres or lived with rag pickers, orphans, differently-abled people or lepers.
Emily Khon San lived with rag pickers in Ayetharyar. She related, “We had to beg and pick garbage for three days. Only during this immersion did I realise the importance of food. I regret the times I wasted food. Now, I know how people are starving in this world.”
Peter Seng Dan who were with rag pickers in Taunggyi added, “We have ignored and neglected the rag pickers in our society. We think they are dirty people, but we are the dirty ones polluting the environment. On the other hand, the rag pickers clean every bit of our dirt. These three days have changed my attitude towards them. In the future, I will be careful about my own waste.”
When Rosalin Ja Seng went to the leper colony, she was scared. “While cleaning their wounds, and bathing them, I wanted to run away”, she shared. “Later, I remembered how St Francis Xavier served the sick people in the ships and the coastal areas of India. I felt that I, too, was serving God’s people like the saints.”
Reflecting on her experience with differently-abled people, Rosemary Mouk Saing Sey realised that “we have much talent to share with others”. She felt the grace of generosity and empathy. “I learned how God has blessed me abundantly.”
For John Nyi Nyi, “Three days of pilgrimage taught me to completely trust in the providence of God. Never in my life had I surrendered my life to God’s will. I understood and experienced the meaning of ‘Thy will be done….Give us this day our daily bread.’”
Co-pilgrim Alfred shared, “During the Mass, the priest often says, ‘The Lord be with you’. Often, I was anxious and wondered who would give us a meal or shelter. I prayed sweating in the scorching heat of the sun and under the moonlight. Each moment of the pilgrimage, I experienced the Lord was with us and walking with us.”
It was not only Catholics who participated in the Magis gathering. Eaindra Nwe is a Hindu who found much hope in her Magis experience. “I am a Hindu and yet do not believe much in my God. Now, I am given hope and courage to believe in my God and become a better Hindu. Though, I am not a Christian, I could feel Jesus through the people. Everyone we met during our immersion was Jesus for me. They showed us the love of Jesus.”