​​​​​​​‘I want to walk together with all the people of Myanmar,’ Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Keng Tung

In an exclusive interview with Radio Veritas Asia, Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Keng Tung Diocese, in the eastern Shan State of Myanmar said, shared his pastoral vision.

“I would like to include everybody regardless of their faith, their religion, and their social standards. At the same time, I’d like to work with all the people, the different congregations, and the associations. Elderly people and the youth and the children. So, I hope to march together with all the people in serving the people entrusted to our care. So that's my desire and my vision for the future,” said Bishop John. Myanmar.

Bishop John was interviewed by Sister Lucia Thandar Aung, from the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition and the coordinator of the RVA Myanmar service.

Bishop John Saw expressed his desire and willingness ‘to serve in a remote area’ since his young age.

“As a child, I used to live in a remote area. And then we didn’t have many Catholic members of families in the area we lived. Only maybe once a year the priest would come to our place. And then it was a very rare chance for us to see the priest. So, it's also one of the reasons that made me become a priest, so that I may be able to reach out to all the people, especially in the remote area,” he said.

Bishop John shared that ‘the poor and the needy and the people in the remote areas have a deep faith in God, and they hope in God's kindness, in God’s mercy.’ “That is a kind of energy for me to continue my mission for the people entrusted to my care.”

 In the Keng Tung Diocese, the Education, Health and Karuna (Caritas) Commissions of Keng Tung Diocese are helping the neediest people and how the people are helping each other regardless of faith.

His eventual dream for the diocese is to create a diocese in which the bishop, priests, religious and the laity are walking and working together, embracing everyone regardless of their faith and religion or social and economic situation.

He dreams of a Myanmar wherein people are able to live peacefully, despite different faith and religions, and share and enjoy the feast days, or celebrations of the all faiths.

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han is the bishop of the Keng Tung diocese, where there are 58,00 Catholics. Most are ethnic Shan with approximately 46 per cent, Lahu at 20 per cent, Akha at 14 per cent, and Myanmar and Wa with the rest.

On November 4, 2022, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor John Saw Yaw Han as bishop of the Keng Tung Diocese. Following the death of Bishop Peter Louis Caku in 2020, he succeeded him.

At present, he is the Secretary-General and Treasurer of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar and the President of the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism in Myanmar.

The Voice of Asian Bishops (Interview) 

FULL TEXT of the Interview with Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Keng Tung of Myanmar

Sister Lucia

‘Mingalar pa’ [greeting in Myanmar Language]. I am Sister Lucia Thandar Aung, from the sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition and Coordinator of RVA Myanmar Service. I'm now going to interview our newly appointed Bishop of Keng Tung. And we are very blessed to interview him. Here we are.

Sister Lucia

‘Mingalar Pa’. My Lord, Honored and blessed to interview you as the newly appointed Bishop of Keng Tung Diocese. Congratulations, my Lord. I thank God for this opportunity. And thanks to you too. I would like to interview you about your pastoral visions, plans and dreams for your diocese. And first of all, I would like to ask. Can you tell us more about your diocese briefly?

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

‘Mingalar pa,’ Sister. The diocese of Keng Tung is located in the eastern Shan State. It borders China, Laos and Thailand. So, in this diocese, we have different tribal people living together, such as Arkar, Shan, Lahu, Wa, and a few Kayas and Karen people.

And then you ask me about my pastoral vision and mission, OK. According to the Guidelines of His Holiness Pope Francis, following the Spirit of solidarity I'd like to include everybody regardless of their faith, their religion, and their social standards. At the same time, I’d like to work with all the people, the different congregations, and the associations. Elderly people and the youth and the children. So, I hope to march together with all the people in serving the people entrusted to our care. So that's my desire and my vision for the future.

Sister Lucia

Thank you, my Lord, for the vision that you share and for the brief background of the diocese of Keng Tung also.

And then can you please share about your vocation as Bishop? Really briefly, the most rewarding or the most difficult thing being as a Bishop.

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

Before becoming a Bishop, I was a priest. Before becoming a priest, I was an ordinary Christian boy.

My parents’ examples and their devotion to God, their faith in God, and their respect for religious people like priests, nuns, and brothers, inspired me a lot. They're trying to have the foundation for me: faith in Jesus Christ and Christianity. When I was seeing my parents’ good examples, I also had the same devotion to God and respect for religious people.

And as a child, I used to live in a remote area. And then we didn’t have many Catholic members of families in the area we lived. Only maybe once a year the priest would come to our place. And then it was a very rare chance for us to see the priest. So, it's also one of the reasons that made me become a priest, so that I may be able to reach out to all the people, especially in the remote area. So, based on that desire, I entered the minor seminary. In 1995, I was ordained as a priest and a Bishop in 2015.

Now I've already been a Bishop for seven years, and recently I was appointed here in this diocese. So, I come here. I'm happy to be sent to the remote area, to the periphery, or something like that. So, that's how I got the vocation to be a Bishop.

Sister Lucia

Thank you, Bishop. What motivates you most in your life?

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

Yes, you know. As a priest, and a Bishop, whenever I visited the people, especially the poor and the needy and the people in the remote areas, I observed, and I found they have a deep faith in God, and they hope in God's kindness, in God’s mercy. And then, it also encouraged me to examine myself and to increase my faith, and my hope in God. So that is a kind of energy for me to continue my mission for the people entrusted to my care.

With regard to evangelization in Keng Tung Diocese, was initiated by PIME bishops and PIME missionaries. In 1912, altogether 3 PIME fathers were sent to the Eastern Shan states. And then, they began their missions. In 1916, Sisters of Maria Bambina congregations also arrived in Myanmar and then they were sent to the eastern Shan state, the Keng Tung Diocese. And then they gave services, especially in the area, of schools, orphanages, dispensaries, and hospitals. And later on, the diocese got the vocations for the priesthood. And later the diocese was led by the local Bishop; Bishop Abraham Than who was succeeded by Bishop Peter Luis Kaku. And now, I'm appointed to lead the diocese of Keng Tung.

Sister Lucia

Thank you, My Lord. We have learned that here, in this diocese of Keng Tung, there are different commissions working together and they are very united. And so, what kind of activities of these different commissions in your diocese inspire or affect the other people or other faithful? What do you think?

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

For example, we have the Health Commission. In the past, the sisters gave services in the healthcare area. And then especially, they gave services in caring for the lepers. They also continue their mission up to now. That service impressed a lot of the people around their congregation. It is very impressive.

And another Commission is Education Commission. In the remote area, due to the difficulties, related to transportation and communications, and healthcare most people do not want to go to such areas but priests, nuns, and laity volunteer, they went to such areas, and then, they tried to teach the children of the villagers. Some of them even gave their life by giving service in teachings the children of the villagers. Some children got the opportunity to continue their education in the cities. And then slowly, slowly, they realized the value of education, and then, since the education standard is raised, their living standard also was getting higher. So, education is one of the areas, one of the commissions that impressed the people.

Another one is like Karuna Commission; Caritas social service, especially, during the COVID times. The commission’s head and the members tried to assist the people in need. For medical care, their food and lodgings, and whatever they can, the Commission tried to provide. So, it also impressed a lot to the people in this Keng Tung Diocese. Karuna commission, Healthcare commission, and Education Commission are giving effective services in the diocese of Keng Tung.

Sister Lucia

Thank you, My Lord.  Now, please allow me to ask where do you like to see your diocese in the next few years.

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

I'd like to see a diocese, that embraces the people, regardless of their faith and religion such as standards and economic situations. And at the same time, I like to see the Diocese of Keng Tung, working together, and collaborating together among priests, religious and laity without differentiating male or female, elderly or children because we are members and one body, we all need to work together. So. I'd like to see the Catholic members of Keng Tung respect one another, to value the qualities each other.

Sister Lucia

Thank you, My Lord. Engage in the FABC triple dialogue with religions, cultures and the poor?

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

In our country, Myanmar, we have different religious beliefs. And different religious backgrounds. But our Myanmar people are able to live peacefully. Even though we have different faith and religions, we like to share, and we like to enjoy the feast days, or celebrations of the other faith also. For example, in some places, Catholic people are few in number. So, when they celebrate their parish feast day, they don't have people to cook or to give services. So, Buddhist people, come and cook for the Catholic celebrations. So, in turn, whenever Buddhists, Muslims, or Hindus, they have the celebration feast day. Catholics are also ready to give services to keep assistance in turn. That's the beauty of our country. So, based on that kind of richness, we can promote their religious activities.

In our country, we have different Christians, of different faith. We promote ecumenism, the unity of the Christians, so it's also going on and working. We work together to become one shepherd and one flock.

Related to cultures, we do have different cultures. We also have an interest in different cultures. Sometimes we even adapt ourselves to different cultures.

With regard to the poor and the needy. The Church tried to find means in some way how to give assistance to the people in need. Especially, in the time of COVID and in the time coup, we find means to be together with them to show our solidarity and how to give us helping hands. So, this is what our Diocese doing, especially by means of Karuna social service we are doing.

In the Diocese of Keng Tung, we have different tribal groups and their languages, such as Arkhar, Lahu, Shan, Wa, and Kachin. And also a few Kaya, and Karen. I'm also from the Karen tribe. So, it is very interesting to see the different colourful costumes, languages and cultures. So, it is a great opportunity for me to learn, study, and adapt myself to their cultures, their traditions. So, it will enrich my knowledge.

Sister Lucia

Do you speak Arkhar language?

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

Akyikyi. Akyikyi means a little bit. Now I am learning, but now I'm able to offer mass in Arkhar so I can communicate with the people. Of course, I need to study more So, also, I need to study Shan, Lahu, Wa. So, at least in order to communicate with them to say hello and hi, goodbye, something like that. I'm happy to learn. I will be doing that with happiness.

Sister Lucia

How do you say hello or mingala pa in Arkhar, or Thank You?

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

So, like in the morning, we say, ‘Wu shaw yaw mu.’ It's a good morning. ‘Nankan yaw mu’ is a good afternoon. ‘Ukyi yaw mu’ is a good evening. Something like that, yeah. Good. Good evening. Goodnight. Yeah. Thank you is ‘Gun lan hunmandi’ in Arkhar, for Lahu ‘Obut uja,’ or something like that. Yeah. We also have some people who speak Chinese also. Yeah, you know, ‘ni hao ma.’ ‘Xie xie’ ‘Zhai jian,’ something like that, greeting words.

Sister Lucia

Thank you, My Lord. And this gives me additional knowledge for my future mission as well. And I would like to ask what is the major challenges or problems that you face and how you deal with them.

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

So, this diocese is very new to me. So, I recently arrived here as a bishop., Of course, in 1997 I came here as a Donum Fidei priest. Soon after my ordination, maybe one or two years after my ordination, I came here. So somehow, I have familiarity with the Diocese. But now, over 20 years already now, this is the second time, when I come to this diocese as a bishop. So, I need to study the situation of the diocese, the relationship among priests, the relationship with the priests and the religious, with the laity. So, these are the kind of challenges believe, by working together with all the clergy, religious congregations, and laity, I will be able to overcome those challenges.

Sister Lucia

You said you have come here after your ordination. So that was your first mission, a first-time mission.

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

I was ordained in 1995. Then, I was sent to one of the parishes in the Yangon Archdiocese. Then, due to the need for priests here in this diocese, especially in the Number 4 Special region, close to China borders and Laos borders. So, I volunteered to be sent to that Number 4 special region. So yes, I was there. I had some experience living with the Hill tribe people like Arkhar and Shan over there.

Sister Lucia

Thank you, My Lord. Do you know Radio Veritas Asia, nowadays, we don't have short waves anymore, and now, we are online already. And then, nowadays for whatever we do in the mission and it is for the ‘glocal.’ This is a combination of ‘global’ and ‘local.’ So, Radio Veritas’s mission is global. So, I would like to ask, do you have any messages for all our Radio Veritas Asia viewers around the globe?

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

Thank you, sister, for asking me that question because when I was young, I was one of the audience. I may say because I listened to Radio Veritas. not only the Catholics follow Radio Veritas, but also other people from different religions and faith, even the Buddhist monks, they also follow Radio Veritas. They are a very close audience, and they are friendly to Radio Veritas.

Due to the political situations and communication, and transportation, it is very difficult to reach from one place to another. To carry, to bring the good news to the people, especially in the remote area. So, by hearing the Radio Veritas program, the people, especially in the remote area and the peripheries, got the same opportunities to hear the word of God, the good news. So, we are very grateful to RVA for their services to us because by means of Radio service and online service, they bring the good news to the people in remote areas. So, thank you very much to Radio Veritas.

Sister Lucia

Thank you, My lord, for giving us this opportunity, this chance for your precious time. And I'm very glad, and I'm very blessed to interview you today. Thank you very much, My Lord.

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han

I also thank you for giving me the time for this interview and to have the opportunity to share something about the diocese of Keng Tung. I'm grateful to the media personnel also for their services and their kind assistance. Thank you, sister, and thank you to all the media people. Thank you.

Sister Lucia

Thanks to you, all the viewers of RVA Please pray for us RVA mission and also FABC. And also, I would like to request your prayer for our new Bishop of Keng Tung for his future mission as well. Thank you very much.

I'm Sister Lucia Thandar Aung, from the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition and also the coordinator of the RVA Myanmar service. Thank you.