Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
diocese of Myitkyina
Myitkyina (Agenzia Fides) – “Today the Lord Jesus says: Peace be with you. May God’s grace and blessings be upon you. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for welcoming me as a Pastor. The Lord loved me, had mercy on me, and chose me. I am here today to tell everyone how much God loves you. Let us not be discouraged, but let us pray even more in these difficult times,” said Msgr. John Mung Ngawn La Sam (MF) Bishop of the Diocese of Myitkyina in northern Myanmar, addressing the more than 600 displaced people who have lived for years in the Nam Hkam refugee camp, which the bishop visited in recent days. The camp is home to members of the Catholic community, but also Orthodox Christians and families belonging to the Anglican Church, all of whom share the experience of the precarious situation of displacement.The camp opened in 2017, after fighting between the Burmese army and ethnic militias, primarily the Kachin and Shan armies, forced people to leave their villages. Over the past four years, since the start of the civil war, the flow of displaced people has continued and increased. Currently, 622 internally displaced people live in the camp, which is run by the local Catholic Church, which regularly provides humanitarian aid. The bishop visited the camp along with the diocesan vicar general, Father Peter, and other priests and lay people. He spoke with the displaced people and their families, encouraging and comforting them, and inviting them to prayer. He listened to their stories, offered opportunities for confession, celebrated Holy Mass, and bestowed blessings. The bishop asked everyone to pray for the four deacons (Fr. Clement, Fr. Lucas, Fr. Patrick, Fr. Thomas) who will be ordained priests on August 6 in Myitkyina Cathedral and invited the faithful, where possible, to participate in the ordination ceremony, which will be “a great gift for the war-torn Diocese of Myitkyina.” The Catholic Diocese of Myitkyina in Kachin State is primarily dedicated to organizing humanitarian aid and assisting refugees. Thousands of displaced people live in the diocese, who, regardless of their faith, are hosted in camps organized by parishes. Thanks to the tireless work of priests, religious, and lay people, the refugees receive material assistance and spiritual support.In the Kachin region of northern Myanmar, there are two Catholic dioceses: the Diocese of Myitkyina (with approximately 100,000 faithful) and the Diocese of Banmaw (with 40,000 Catholics). According to the UNHCR, there are currently around 3.5 million internally displaced people in Myanmar due to the civil war. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 16/7/2025)
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