"Marian devotion necessary to re-animate faith during Covid-19 pandemic and political crisis."

A retired Catholic priest from Yangon archdiocese says the Marian devotion is necessary to re-animate faith amid the pandemic and political crisis.

It is one year since the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021.

"In the time of Covid and political crisis, people's faith has become weak as they have been far away from the Church events. Therefore, Marian devotion is necessary for the people to re-animate their faith life," said Father Louis U Hla Thwin, a retired priest of Yangon Archdiocese.

Father Louis spoke during the 38th Annual Marian pilgrimage in St John, Maung Htaw Lay Parish, Yangon Archdiocese. The pilgrimage began on January 28 and will continue till February 4.

The number of pilgrims were restricted to join the liturgical celebrations due to political crisis and Covid-19 pandemic to attend the spiritual gathering.

"In a time of political crisis, the annual pilgrimage event moves the hearts of the people closer to God and the mother of Jesus," said U Cherubin, a parish elder.

As a devotee, U Cherubin says the pilgrimage is more meaningful this year as people are experiencing a crisis. Pilgrims, like penitents, make their devotion alive and turn to God.

"The celebration is not like any other kind of celebration. It is not for the sake of being joyful and jolly. It is a prayerful celebration which is a sort of bringing oneself closer to God. It should not be understood as if we celebrate and disregard the present situation," said Bishop John Saw Yaw Han, the Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon Archdiocese.

Before the pandemic and political crisis, thousands of devotees participated in the annual event irrespective of faith.

Cecilia Nan Nu Nu Htway, a Marian devotee from the parish, invites those participating to pray for those who cannot make it to the pilgrimage due to restrictions of political crisis.

Late Father Lucas Wee, the parish's former pastor, started the Marian devotion thirty-eight years ago. He was the former parish priest of Nyaunglebin, the well-known National Marian Pilgrimage site. Father Lucas, a Chinese national, was strongly motivated by the Marian devotion in his former mission, which led him to start a Marian pilgrimage site in Yangon.

The annual pilgrimage event is located near Sule Pagoda, one of the famous tourist sites in Yangon, Myanmar.

With inputs from Hubert Saw.