The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, a newly established cathedral in Mindat, sustained severe damage after recent airstrikes by the country’s military regime.
No casualties were reported, but the cathedral’s roof was destroyed and the structure’s window glasses were reduced to shards. The area was evacuated for fear of another attack.
The airstrikes left the cathedral unusable according to Fides, the news service of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
According to Fides, the faithful were planning liturgical celebrations, including the consecration of the newly-appointed bishop of the diocese, Father Augustine Thang Zawm Hung.
In a statement to Fides, Father Paulinus, a local priest, expressed grief over the destruction, but also voiced resolve.
“We are very sad that our church has been hit by the bombs,” he said. “It is a wound in our heart. But we will not let ourselves be defeated. We will rebuild it.
The local priest said, “We are certain that the Lord will ‘bombard’ us with his grace and blessing: This will bring peace and prosperity to our people.”
Meanwhile, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon appealed for prayers for the people displaced by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar after the airstrikes on the cathedral.
Myanmar’s constitution protects religious freedom and the bombing of the cathedral was an outright violation of the supreme law of the country.
Religious freedom sustained massive violations with the bombing and destruction of more than 100 places of worship in Myanmar.
In April 2024, two armed men fired at Fr. Paul Khwi Shane Aung, parish priest of St. Patrick's Church in Mohnyin town. The priest was brought to the hospital after the incident.
Since it seized power, the military junta has detained and killed thousands and bombed hospitals, schools, and religious structures. Millions of people were displaced.
The newly-established Diocese of Mindat has 23 parishes and an estimated population of 360,000. Of the population, more than 14,000 are Catholics.
Pope Francis elevated the status of the church to the cathedral on January 25, two weeks before the military junta launched the airstrikes.
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