The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of Suwon celebrated the First Profession of Vows of two young Myanmar women, marking a significant milestone for their community in the country.

The celebration took place on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord at St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church in Insein Township, Yangon, on August 6, 2025, at 10:00 AM.

His Excellency Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Yangon, presided over the solemn Eucharistic Celebration.

Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye highlighted the profound significance of the occasion.

“This is a miracle,” he stated, noting the contemporary challenges in attracting young people to religious life.

Bishop Noel praised Sr. Maria Vincentia Naw Ni Ni Aung and Sr. Maria Louise Moe Thitza Oo for their exceptional courage in dedicating their lives “for the glory of the Lord.”

His Excellency Bishop Maurice Nyunt Wai of Mawlamyaine Diocese concelebrated and delivered the homily.

A Homily of Inner Radiance:

Bishop Maurice Nyunt Wai, in his homily, drew a powerful parallel between the sisters’ commitment and the Feast of the Transfiguration.

He spoke of their “spiritual beauty,” emphasizing that their vows emanated from the depths of their hearts, visibly shining on their faces.

“It is not their vestments that make them beautiful,” Bishop Maurice reflected, “but their joy makes their wearing decent and beautiful. The changing of their interior life transfigures their outward appearance… The closer the sisters are to the Lord, the more beautiful and brighter they are.”

He likened their inner transformation to Moses descending from Sinai with a radiant face, concluding, “The beauty of the religious is… because of attractiveness in their interior life… What comes from the heart, touches the heart. The vow… made in the heart… appears in the face and it reaches the hearts of men and spreads to the surroundings.”

The Newly Professed Sisters:

• Sr. Maria Louise Moe Thitza Oo: Born September 20, 2003, in Dant Thalon Village, Pyay Diocese, she is the eldest of two siblings.

Her journey began when she joined the Sisters of Charity on June 12, 2019. She entered the postulancy on August 22, 2022, and became a novice on August 22, 2023.

• Sr. Maria Vincentia Naw Ni Ni Aung: Hailing from Taung Pale Village, Taungoo Diocese, Kayin State, she is the youngest of seven siblings.

She joined the congregation on March 15, 2019, entered the postulancy on August 22, 2022, and began her novitiate on August 22, 2023.

Roots and Mission in Myanmar:

The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, founded in Paderborn, Germany, in 1841, arrived in Korea in 1965.

They established their mission in Myanmar in 2006, embracing their charism to serve “the poor, the sick, and the needy with [a] compassionate heart,” guided by the motto, “The Poor are our master and Lord.”

Their diverse ministries across Yangon and beyond include providing free medical care (often in collaboration with St. Vincent’s Hospital, Korea, and local institutions), running learning centers, distributing food, clothing, and school materials, caring for orphans and abandoned women, visiting prisoners and factory workers, and offering guidance to youth.

They also provide crucial education about hygiene and health issues to vulnerable children and communities.

The First Professions of Sr. Maria Vincentia and Sr. Maria Louise bring the number of Myanmar-born sisters in the congregation to fifteen.

They join fellow Sisters of Charity serving in the USA, Korea, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, ready to embark on their lives of dedicated service to those most in need.

By RVA Sgaw Karen