Myanmar Monsignor Nerius U Maung Maung from Yangon Archdiocese marked his fifty years of priestly service with a thanksgiving mass on March 1.
In his homily, Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon Archdiocese said that Monsignor Nerius U Maung Maung was a person who fostered the promotion of vocation. He valued his priestly life. He enjoyed his prayer life and spiritual exercises.
Myanmar Cardinal remarked, “Monsignor Nerius always encouraged the parents to donate their children to be priests and religious. He has been supporting the priests, seminarians, and religious in their vocation way.”
Cardinal Bo commended that the Monsignor was free of worldly attachments. He did not save for his own, but he used what was with him for the mission. He used what he received from the people for the education of the young people, for the food of the poor, for the sick promptly without reluctance.
Monsignor Nerius’ Priestly Motto is ‘Thy will be done.’
He has been obedient to his superiors in his priesthood for 50 years.
“He is a man of obedience. Although he was not graduated in any specialization, he accepted the appointment to be the rector of Yangon Major Seminary and Pyin Oo Lwin Philosophical Department out of obedience and he fulfilled his duties faithfully. He was the longest to be the Seminary Rector than other Rectors. His obedience is exemplary to all the priests,” said Auxiliary Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye of Yangon Archdiocese, a former student of Monsignor Nerius.
Monsignor Nerius served as professor of Yangon Major Seminary from 1981 to 1984, Rector of the Philosophy Department, Bago from 1984 to 1985, Rector of the Institute of Philosophy, Pyin Oo Lwin from 1985 to 1993, and Rector of St. Joseph Minor Seminary, Bago from 1994 to 2000.
Out of his students, three have been ordained as Bishops. There are many priests and religious whom he has supported.
Monsignor Nerius served as Parish Priest in many parishes and the procurator of Yangon Archdiocese from 1993 to 1994.
“He has not just simply fulfilled his duties, but he has served the people and the Church generously in every place and he gave priority to the poor as if he was really a father, a shepherd,” said Father Hyginus Myint Soe, Parish Priest of St. Mary Cathedral Yangon, a former student of Msgr. Nerius.
Many of his parishioners, old and new, said that Monsignor Nerius is a good pastor and a faithful servant of God.
“Time flies very fast. 50 years of Priesthood is like yesterday. Try to make use of time fruitfully,” said Monsignor Nerius, the Jubilee Celebrant.
Monsignor Nerius was born on February 29, 1944, in Thabyaydan Village, Maubin Parish, Yangon Archdiocese, Myanmar.
He is the second of two siblings. He was ordained deacon on December 8, 1972, by His Grace Archbishop Gabriel Mahn Gabi in Yangon St. Mary’s Cathedral.
He was ordained priest on March 10, 1973, in St. Mary Cathedral of Yangon by Cardinal Terence Cook of the USA. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Yangon University.
On March 3, 2018, he was granted the title of Monsignor from the Holy See. - By Hubert Saw
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