Myanmar: Memorial mass for late Bishop John Hsane Hgyi

A memorial mass for Bishop John Hsane Hgyi of Pathein diocese in the Ayeyarwaddy Region of Myanmar was celebrated on July 22.

Bishop Hsane Hgyi died of Covid-19 on July 22, 2021, at the age of 68.

Bishop Nyunt Wai, presiding over the memorial mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Pathein, said: “Although his preaching was as sharp as swords, his heart is as sweet as honey”.

“Bishop John Hsane Hgyi lived not just a representative of Christ but as a clone of Christ,” remarked Coadjutor Bishop Maurice Nyunt Wai of Mawlamyaing Diocese.

The late Bishop Hsane Hgyi used to distribute food aid to his starving sheep during the natural disaster such as Nargis cyclone in 2008 and Covid-19 pandemic.

“He was an active head of interfaith dialogue program in Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar,” Diocesan Administrator Father Henry Eikhlein of Pathein explained.

“The departed Bishop was popular as online Bishop because of his audiovisual preaching online and the first Bishop who initiated online ministry on the internet, on Facebook,” remarked Father Raymond Kyaw Aung.

The Cathedral Rector Father Felix Soe Win told RVA, “Bishop John Hsane Hgyi was very patient with those who criticized and misunderstood him. He never reacted to them. Instead, he kept critics and misunderstandings in his heart.”

“Bishop John Hsane Hgyi, like his patron Saint John Chrysostom, was good at preaching. I miss his homilies,” said Francina, a parishioner of Cathedral parish.

The late bishop was ordained deacon in 1981, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon, and became a priest in 1982, at Zaung Dan parish of Pathein Diocese.

He was named Bishop in 2003, and was installed as Bishop of Pathein in 2003. He  served the Diocese of Pathein for eighteen years.

He was a rector of the Institute of Philosophy in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Region, and the Institute of Theology in Yangon, Myanmar.

By RVA Pwo Karen Service