Jubilee of the families, Grandparents, and the elderly of Yangon Archdiocese was celebrated in St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Kyimyindaing Township, Yangon on 2025 June 14, Saturday.

This jubilee was organized by the Archdiocesan Family Commission.

One family from each parish in the Yangon Archdiocese was invited to the occasion.

The Jubilee Mass took place at 11:30 am, which was presided over by His Excellency Raymond Wai Lin Tun, Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon Archdiocese.

In his homily, Bishop Raymond Wai Lin Tun said that the Jubilee is a time of thanksgiving, a time of reflection on one’s way of life, and to renew one’s family life. We have to hope for the future. Family life is not an easy one.

Echoing the words of Pope Francis, Bishop Raymond said that God Himself instituted the human family since creation. Family is a domestic Church. Parents are the first missionaries. Families are the beautifiers of the world. A family is very precious to human society.

Bishop Raymond encouraged the families, “There are many challenges for the family, such as poverty, war, displacement, migration, globalization, and secularism. Whatever the situation may be, Christ is the captain of the family vessel in the troubled sea of the world, and to those who keep in touch with Him.”

“Jubilee is a time for renewal of the commitment to the families. Children have to renew their commitment, love, and honor for their parents. Grandparents should impart their wisdom to the young people. The Church should renew its pastoral care to the families, to listen and accompany them. Government and Society should renew their commitment to the families, to protect, to encourage the families,” the prelate added.

Before the Jubilee Mass, there was registration of the participants, a welcome speech by Fr. Augustine Moe Win, director of the Archdiocesan Family Commission, a talk on the family by Fr. Hyginus Myint Soe, chancellor of the archdiocese, and sharing of family life by each of the selected families.

In his opening speech, Fr. Augustine Moe Win, director of the Archdiocesan Family Commission, said that it is time to recount the blessings in family life. It is a special moment for the family to unite in God’s love and to ask for divine graces. And he welcomed all the participants of the Jubilee celebration of the families.

Rev. Fr Hyginus Myint Soe, chancellor of Yangon Archdiocese, said, “We are praising God in this entire year of Jubilee. Families are to do reconciliation, forgiveness, healing in ourselves, and to thank God. Family is the main school.”

He emphasized that the happiness of the family is the happiness of the Church. The failures and sadness of the family are those of the Church too.

Fr. Hyginus raised some questions for reflection, such as: What are the experiences of families? What are the Challenges? What are the Parents, teachers, and missionaries doing in cooperation with the Church? What is the family spirituality?  

The priest insisted, “A Catholic wedding is not just a social affair and legalization only, but it is related to the heavenly kingdom, which is making its pilgrimage in this earthly life.”

He highlighted that the parents are the first teachers and trainers. The relationship between parents is like a bible for the Children. A sense of responsibility, caring, commitment, and sacrifice can be learned first at home.

“Family is like a very good hospital. There can be so many young people who are wounded due to different causes. There can be individualism in the family, too. And they are to be healed in the family. There should be a healing session in the family. Family is a temple of God, a sacred institution,” Fr. Hyginus continued.

U Judson’s Family from Epiphany Church shared about their family’s experience, “There have been quarrels between us, too. I try to pray more and more, and I have come to know more about the good results of prayer. Ma May Myint, my wife, has regular scripture reading in the morning and leads family evening prayer in the evening. How busy we might be, we did not miss the family evening prayer. As a family, we are to keep on going with God.”

Ko Peter and Ma Teresa from St Joseph Parish, Kyimyindaing Township, witness their family life, “We have experienced many kinds of difficulties and many times of failures. Whatever may be, we believe in the existence of God.”

By RVA Sgaw Karen