Despite the devastation caused by the March 28 earthquake that seriously damaged St. Vincent De Paul’s Church, the faithful of Zawgyi Village in the Archdiocese of Mandalay gathered with deep devotion to celebrate the feast of their patron saint, St. Vincent De Paul.

The feast day celebration began with a vigil Mass on July 18, presided over by parish priest Fr. Michael Ko Ko Gyi.

The main Eucharistic celebration on July 19 was led by Fr. Joseph Thet Lwin, with a special homily delivered by Fr. Patrick Nanda Yan Nyein Aung.

In his homily, Fr. Patrick emphasized the spiritual legacy of St. Vincent De Paul, calling on the faithful to embrace a life rooted in charity and compassion.

“St. Vincent invites us to see the world with spiritual, charitable, and caring eyes,” he said. “He could do such great work because God gave him the grace to do so. And God invites each of us to join in His mission of love.”

He further reminded the congregation that poverty comes in many forms—not only material lack, but also poverty of love, empathy, humility, and joy.

“Our Christian life must come from the depths of our hearts. If we truly follow the example of St. Vincent, we cannot ignore kindness, love, or humility, for to do so is to neglect the very teachings of Jesus.”

After the Mass, a joyful procession carrying the statue of St. Vincent De Paul wound through the streets of Zawgyi Village, culminating in Benediction.

The celebration drew priests, religious, and lay faithful from nearby towns and villages, a testament to the enduring spiritual strength of the community.

U Myint Aung, a longtime villager, shared a powerful reflection: “Our church may have been destroyed by the earthquake, but our faith remains strong. The temple on earth may fall, but the temple in our hearts will never be destroyed.”

Thanks to the generosity of a donor, a temporary chapel was built to accommodate Eucharistic celebrations.

“It is truly the grace of God,” said Fr. Michael Ko Ko Gyi. “Even after such a disaster, we witnessed the unwavering devotion of so many who came to honor St. Vincent. That is a blessing.”

The feast day in Zawgyi Village stood not only as a tribute to St. Vincent De Paul but also as a powerful witness to the resilience of faith in times of trial—a reminder that while structures may fall, the Church in the hearts of believers remains unshaken.

By RVA Myanmar Service