Catholic Pastoral Center bombed in Myanmar amid escalating conflict

The Burmese army struck and destroyed the pastoral center at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Nan Hlaing, a rural area of the Diocese of Banmaw in northern Myanmar, during a bombing raid on March 3, 2025.

Jesuit Father Wilbert Mireh, the parish priest, reported that five artillery shells and two aerial bombs hit the church grounds, causing significant damage but no injuries.

“I thank God that we are safe, though people here are struggling to survive, and there are no schools, clinics, or shops,” said Fr. Mireh.

Due to the destruction and ongoing danger, the faithful now celebrate Mass under the trees.

“It is too dangerous to be inside the church, which has already been damaged,” he said.

The Diocese of Banmaw, located in Kachin State, lies about 186 km south of the capital, Myitkyina.

The region, home to Kachin, Bamar, Shan, and Han communities, has been the site of escalating violence between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), an ethnic militia fighting for self-determination.

Heavy artillery and airstrikes have responded to the military's forced retreat from large areas of Kachin State in recent months.

The battle for control of Banmaw has displaced thousands, with many residents fleeing to forests and villages where food and resources are scarce.

“Most of the city’s residents have left, and only about 20,000 people remain,” local sources reported.

The ongoing conflict has already displaced more than 120,000 people recently, with nine out of the 13 parishes in the Diocese of Banmaw affected in the past two years alone.

Fr. Mireh, a Burmese Jesuit priest ordained in 2013, had to travel to the Chinese border to find a place with electricity and internet access to report the attack.

“Electricity, phone services, and utilities have been completely cut off in our area since July 2024,” he said.

Despite these hardships, faith remains strong among the Catholic community.

“The faithful entrust themselves to the protection of Archangel Michael. Even children and young people sing and invoke St. Michael to be our shield and defense,” he shared.

Though the situation remains dire, Fr. Mireh remains committed to serving the faithful, providing pastoral care, and advocating for education.

“Today, the fact that children have no access to school is one of the most serious consequences of this civil war,” he noted.

In the face of destruction and fear, he reaffirmed his faith and mission: “Despite the suffering and uncertainty, we will continue to live for goodness, truth, and justice—firm in our faith.” - with input from Agenzia Fides