23 – 28 AGOSTO 2017 PUM MYANMAR
PMS MISSIONARY AWARENESS SEMINARS Final Report
Here is the final report on the Second Missionary Awareness Seminars which have been conducted in Banmaw Diocese and in Myitkyina Diocese, Myanmar by the National Office of the PMS at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Myanmar (CBCM-PMS).
Regarding the two Seminars, the former one was organized from August 23rd to 25th, 2017, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Kokkotaw Quarter, Banmaw diocese. 16 PMS Diocesan Directors, 2 more delegates from each Arch/diocese across the country and many participants from the host diocese as well came to the Seminar. Consequently, there were 108 attendees and 10 observers in number. The Seminar was entitled We are one in Mission. The purposes of the Seminar were:
To become agents of Communion, Participation and Mission.
To promote the Pontifical Mission Societies in all Arch/dioceses.
To come up with proper plans for the National Congress of MCA children and their animators in 2018.
The First Day of the Seminar
Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam, together with 16 priests, presided the Opening Mass at 6:00 am and gave the homily on Missionary Church. After the Mass and the breakfast, all the seminar participants enrolled themselves and took their seats in the hall. Around 8:30 am, the 2nd Missionary Awareness Seminar began with the invocation of the Holy Spirit and the opening prayer led by the PMS National Director. Next, Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam shared some thought-provoking points on doing missions according to Papal Documents as an introduction to the Seminar.
Afterwards, PMS National Director Fr. Bernardino Ne Ne imparted the information and knowledge of the 4 Pontifical Mission Societies:
Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith,
Pontifical Society for of the Holy Childhood,
Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle,
Pontifical Missionary Union.
The lecture was flooded with questions and answers.
The Seminar was resumed at 1:30 pm and Sr. Pansy, MSBS, gave a lecture on Mission Spirituality, and she pointed out clearly that any mission spirituality needs to be rooted in
167 Scripture, in the Christian Traditions, and in Human Experiences. She also requested all the participants to discuss these three questions:
Is there a Scripture passage that defines or is foundational to your personal missionary spirituality?
Who are your missionary heroes or heroines?
Tell a story or give an example of your missionary practice!
Subsequently, Sr. Emi Soe, MSBS, lectured all of us on Vocation and Mission. She tried to reflect that there were many “vocational stories” in the Gospels and in the Bible as a whole and added that each individual, when called by God to serve Him and follow Him, had some inward struggle before he/she could surrender to what God asked of him/her. She helped us to never forget that in our struggle to live in harmony with God’s purpose for our lives, we all have the assurance of Gabriel’s word to Mary, “Nothing is impossible to God.” In other words, what may seem impossible to us is always possible with God’s help. Finally, the first day of the seminar came to the end at 5:00 pm.
At 6:00 pm, many seminar attendees united with Bishop R. Sumlut Gam took part in the recitation of the Missionary Rosary for Reconciliation, Peace and Prosperity of our Country Myanmar.
The Second Day of the Seminar
The second day of the seminar started with Eucharistic celebration at 6:00 am and the Mass was presided by the PMS National Director. After breakfast and some leisure, all were seated in the parish hall and the PMS National Director tried to expound on “Proclaiming Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life”. Next, Msgr. Maurice Nyut Wai who is CBCM Executive Secretary gave a lecture about “Missio Ad Gentes.” He reminded us that evangelization of all people was the basic duty of every baptized (AG 35) and presented various effective means of carrying out the missions.
Later, in the afternoon session, Mrs. Isabella Pyone Pyone Aung recalled what our last Missionary Awareness Seminar 2016 had decided to do in the year 2016-2017 and the accomplishments regarding the decisions (such as MCA logo design, admission form, membership card and MCA Handbook).
When the second part of the afternoon session was resumed, Mrs. Isabella Pyone Pyone Aung went on sharing the National Office Personnel’s animation trips to some Arch/dioceses.
Above all, she delightfully informed that PMS National Office was planning the National Congress of MCA children and their animators in honor of the 175th Anniversary of the Society of Missionary Childhood Establishment in 2018 and inquired whether all Diocesan Directors and their delegates
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agreed on it or not. When all unanimously supported it, we continued to discuss about the place and the time to have it. As a result, Yangon was our first priority where we would celebrate this worthy historical event, and around 50 children with their caretakers from each Arch/diocese would be cordially invited.
The Third Day of the Seminar
On the third and final day, all Diocesan Directors concelebrated the Holy Mass at 6:00 am, and Fr. Paul Thet Kaing, PMS-Mandalay Diocesan Director, was the main celebrant and the homilist. When we were ready for the final day of the Seminar, the PMS National Director explained how and when the Project proposals should be sent to respective General Secretaries. He did also encourage all Diocesan Directors to raise awareness about the Day dedicated to each Pontifical Society and to have special celebration for each. He distributed a single translated copy about “The Nomination, Role and Requirement of the Diocesan Director,” to each Diocesan Director.
In addition, we enjoyed the Power Point presentation of mission activities of the PMS by the Diocesan Director of Taungngu, Pathein, Kalay and Loikaw this year. (Each year about 4 dioceses were requested to present their mission activities.) And the whole morning session was spent on general discussions.
After lunch, we listened to Fr. John Zau Doi, PMS-Banmaw Diocesan Director, with great interest as he explained to us what Kachin tradition is all about in detail. Next, we went on excursion trip: first, we were brought to Kachin Traditional House where we could study the original meaning of the way they built their home and their ancient lifestyle in the paintings. Then, we proceeded to Nanhlaig, originally Shan Village to visit St. Michael’s church, the first brick-nogging church which was built by Rev. Fr. Calude Roche, the outstanding MEP missionary priest, in the year 1928-1929. We were privileged to appreciate what the missionary did for the local people and we all prayed for the success and growth of our local mission.
The other Seminar in Myitkyina Diocese
The latter seminar was organized at St. Luke’s Socio-pastoral Formation Center, Eden Quarter, Myitkyina diocese. It was held from August 28th to 29th. There were 150 participants.
We taught the same subject matters to them:
1. 3 Pontifical Mission Societies, by PMS National Director,
2. Proclaiming Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life, by PMS National Director, 3. Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood, by Mrs. Isabella,
169 4. Missio Ad Gentes, by Msgr. Maurice Nyunt Wai,
5. Mission spirituality, by Sr. Pansy, MSBS, 6. Vocation and Mission, by Sr. Emi Soe, MSBS.
These two Missionary Awareness Seminars helped all the participants receive a more in-depth knowledge about the PMS. We were also empowered to reflect on the evangelization activities and methods of collaboration proper to the PMS in the context of the local Church.
We remain grateful and very much encouraged by the support PMU willingly gave us.
Without the generous assistance of the PMU, we would have been in great difficulty to raise missionary awareness among priests, religious and the faithful. I express my sincerest thanks and heartfelt appreciation for PMU financial assistance and constant support, I avail myself of this opportunity to convey to all the PMU personnel my sentiments of esteem and prayerful best wishes.
Fr. Bernardino Ne Ne PMS National Director, Myanmar
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