Myitkyina Diocese in Myanmar inaugurated a new parish in Zang Yaw village on January 15.
As the representative of Cardinal Charles Bo, Monsignor Peter Hka Awng Tu, the apostolic administrator of Myitkyina diocese, read the appointment letter by Cardinal Bo.
“Catholic mission is inclusive. It is not only for Catholics but for all of the people, the poor, the needy, and all kinds of people," Monsignor Hka Awng Tu remarked in his homily.
"Creation of the new parish, gives the people of Zang Yaw village better access to spiritual care. And having a priest here will be very helpful for children’s education and development in the area," he added.
The newly established Zang Yaw parish comprises 11 villages, with about 500 people in the population.
The new parish priest is Father Peter Zang Yaw Hpung, the former coordinator of RVA Lisu service.
There were more than one thousand participants, together with 9 priests. Father Zang Yaw Hpung thanked all the participants at the function.
Zang Yaw village was in the Putao parish before.
Father John Awng Htoi, the parish priest of Putao, stated, “creation of Zang Yaw villages as a parish does not mean that we don’t belong to you anymore. We will keep in touch with one another and work together. We will be available to help in whatever way we can.”
The residents from the villages were full of joy as their desire to get a priest was fulfilled. The catechists were leading the lay people in the past.
“We have approached Father Peter Zang Yaw Hpung many times whether we can get a priest here. He told me to be patient and to wait. Now I am very happy. I feel as our hope is fulfilled,” Marin Yin, a leader of Zang Yaw village, told RVA.
Zang Yaw is about 355 miles (571 kilometers) from Myitkyina. Due to the rocky and rugged road, the priests can hardly give pastoral visits, regularly.
It takes two days by car and two days on foot to reach Zang Yaw village. It is regarded as one of the frontier mission places.
Though it is not easily accessible, the place is beautiful, with ice-capped mountains and wildflowers. It can become a tourist attraction in the near future. - By Chwar Thar
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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