Bishop visits a remote sub-parish in over 100 years

Myanmar Catholics in Nyaung Lan Gone village were overjoyed with the visit of Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye, the Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon on February 20. It was a historic day for the Catholics of the sub-parish to see a bishop for the first time after about a hundred years.

Nyaung Lan Gone (A Lan Gone) was under Kyauttan Parish, Yangon archdiocese, nearly 40 miles east of Yangon adjacent to the seashore with almost no road connectivity.

Due to the pandemic, poor transportation, and political unrest, pastoral care for this place is delayed.

Regional development has been underway in recent years, but the present political crisis causes the hindrance of the development efforts, especially for road construction.

Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye recalls how he was moved to visit the village.

“Once, I was in Thone Kwa, a neighboring place, for confirmation. I met Sister Roselyn Arokiaswami, a Sisters of Infant Jesus Society (IJS).  We could talk about the activities of the missionary Sister in Nyaung Lan Gone,” said Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye.

“Sister was the first person who inspired me to visit the place. We have already heard about this place for a certain time, and now we can physically present in this place. The Chapel is the heritage of the faith of our forefathers, and we are to safeguard and maintain it,” the prelate said.

Bishop thanked Father Nicholas Than Myit, the pastor of the sub-parish, for the invitation.

“The visit of Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye is a pastoral and historical visit to this sub-parish. The bishop even decided to walk towards Nyaung Lan Gone start from the place where vehicle transport is impossible since he is eager to meet his sheep,” said Father Nicholas Than Myint.

Together with the local people, the bishop hopes for the transportation system to be ready in the future and plans more frequent visits.

For the last seven years, Sr Roselyn Arokiaswami, IJS from Malaysia, has been on a mission in Nyaung Lan Gone village.

It was the request of Father Matthew Than Htay, the former parish priest of Kyauttan since this village was under his care, who invited the nuns in the village.

“We have 11 families with around 40 Catholics. It is a sub-parish. We are giving our service to God’s Children. We accept them, and we have challenges too. But they are great, and we really love them. Our focus is also on the youth to be united.  People are poor in this area. We organize Catechism, English and we teach Tamil to Tamil-speaking children. Music learning is also part of our mission,” said Sister Roselyn.

“Previously, the local people were not willing to accept the activities of the sister. Afterward, they realize the generous heart of the sisters and allow their children to receive the teaching and instruction of the missionary sister,” said Fr Maria Soosay, OFM, who was born in the village.

“Before 1962, there were about 600 Catholic families. After 1962, many of them returned to India since the Catholics here were Tamil (ethnicity). Many of them migrated to the cities and only about 14 families are left in this place,” said Father Maria Soosay.

Father Maria Soosay is taking care of the boys’ education in the neighboring center called Thone Kwa.

“Bishop’s visit to this remote area is really according to the words of Pope Francis to connect with people on the peripheries,” Fr Maria Soosay said.