Amid military clashes in Myanmar, Catholics join the inauguration of the Synodal Process

A war-like situation did not stop Catholics in Myanmar to inaugurate the synodal journey on October 17. But the faithful in Myanmar’s Chin State could not join the online service of the opening ceremony of the synodal process. 

Local Catholic dioceses worldwide inaugurated their synodal journey to prepare for the Synod of Bishop to be held in the Vatican in 2023.

But in the Chin State of Myanmar, a military coup and covid-19 restrictions disrupted an opportunity for the faithful to even join the online liturgical event.

Amid restriction, Myanmar’s diocese of Hakha inaugurated the synodal process at the Diocesan Center at Hakha in compliance with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) and the Vatican guidelines.

According to Father Paul, the local coordinator of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) Chin Hakha Service, Bishop Lucius Hre Kung, the local bishop, along with seven priests, three brothers, one catechist, eight youth volunteers and a few laypeople attended the event at the pastoral center.  

Most priests in the Hakha diocese could not participate via Zoom video conference as internet and telecommunication were shut down in Chin State from Saturday, October 16.

The priest informed Radio Veritas Asia, that Hakha a town in Chin State, is under strict lockdown.  “For this reason, the faithful were not able to attend liturgical celebrations. They cannot even watch the opening ceremony of the synodal Church online because of the internet shutdown,” the priest said.

 “The challenge is not only Covid-19 restriction,” Father Paul says. “But the junta troops are arriving at Chin State, in Hakha and Falam in particular.”

RVA Chin Hakha group had prepared to live-stream the event on the Facebook page but failed to do it as the internet was shut down.

According to the information, almost 50 soldiers with two tanks of Myanmar’s junta are fighting against the Chin Armed Forces: Chin National Army (CNA), Chin National Defense Force (CNDF), and Chin Defense Force (CDF). CNA, CNDF and CDF are Chin Ethnic Armed Groups in Chin State.

“Civilians are fleeing in fear because this week war might break out in Hahka,” the priest said.

The priest expressed his deep anguish in three words: “Pray for us,” requesting friends and colleagues to pray for the people in Hakha.