In the southernmost reaches of Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region, where the Andaman Sea meets a landscape increasingly shaped by military presence and pastoral resilience, a gathering of Catholic clergy recently sought to renew their mission.
At the invitation of Bishop Maurice Nyunt Wai of Mawlamyine, Fr. Santiago Girish, SJ, regional superior of the Myanmar Jesuits, led an ongoing formation program for 25 diocesan priests in the coastal city of Myeik.
The gathering, held in a city that also serves as a strategic naval headquarters, highlighted the contrast between the realities of political uncertainty and the Church’s effort to remain a source of hope and accompaniment.
A sacramental identity
The formation centered on the theme: “Renewed in Spirit, Strengthened in Mission: Enhancing Pastoral Effectiveness for Today’s Church.”
Photo credit: Diocese of Mawlamyine
For Fr. Girish, the program was less about instruction and more about shared reflection among fellow priests.
“I am like you, an ordained ordinary priest,” Fr. Girish told the assembly. “All of us face our ups and downs. I am here not to teach, but to share my faith journey. Let us learn from each other and journey together to form ourselves.”
The gathering reflected the Church’s growing emphasis that priestly formation does not end with ordination but continues throughout ministry.
Participants reflected on the need for spiritual rootedness through personal conversion and openness to the Holy Spirit, while also strengthening practical pastoral skills such as leadership, communication, and accompaniment within Myanmar’s complex social and political realities.
Echoes of impact and future hopes
The visit also gave Fr. Girish an opportunity to witness the continuing collaboration between the Jesuits and the local diocese.
At St. Albert School and Community College, a joint initiative with the Myanmar Network of Community Colleges, he observed how holistic education continues to shape the lives of young people in the area.
Many in the community also recalled the pastoral work of Fr. Cyril Pho Cho, SJ, who served in the area for a year following his ordination in 2019.
The local Church is now looking ahead with hope toward the future ordination of Scholastic Saw Heandreas, who is expected to become the first Jesuit priest from the region within the next two years.
“I am eagerly waiting to see my brother a priest amongst us,” said Veronica Nay Blu Paw, Heandreas’ younger sister and a student at the Assumption Church boarding house.
Navigating a time of transition
As Myanmar continues to face social uncertainty and rapid change, the gathering underscored the Church’s role as a shepherding presence among communities seeking stability and hope.
The program concluded with a renewed call for priests to deepen their sacramental identity and strengthen their pastoral mission in the face of ongoing challenges.
As the clergy returned to their parishes across the Diocese of Mawlamyine, they carried with them a renewed commitment to foster reconciliation and sustain hope among communities living through difficult times.
