Sr. Esther Ni Lar Shwe formally dedicated her life to God through perpetual profession with the Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation (NSC) at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Yangon, on October 26, 2025.

The rite, held at 10:00 a.m., marks Sr. Esther’s final and lifelong commitment to the religious congregation. She is the first sister from Myanmar within the NSC to make this perpetual vow.

His Excellency Bishop Raymond Wai Lin Htun, Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon Archdiocese, presided over the Mass. He was joined by concelebrant His Excellency Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye, also an Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon, and six priests.

In his homily, Bishop Raymond expressed profound joy and thanksgiving for Sr. Esther’s final step. He emphasized that religious life serves as a “visible sign of hope and a living witness to God’s love.”

“In the midst of worldly people, the religious say that God is sufficient for us,” the bishop stated. “They show that true joy and contentment come from God alone.” He praised the mission of the Sisters of Consolation, calling Sr. Esther’s choice “very noble and honorable,” and expressed his prayer that her life “be a place of safety for all who are in need of refuge.”

Sr. Esther, 33, was born in Yedin Village, Pyay Diocese. The youngest of eight siblings, she worked as a school teacher before joining the congregation as an aspirant in May 2012. Her formation included postulancy in Myanmar and novitiate training in Manila, Philippines, where she made her first temporary vows in 2017.

Her missionary service has spanned several countries, including assignments in Myanmar from 2018 to 2023, further studies in Peru, and preparatory time in Spain before returning to her community in the Philippines. She is currently serving in Myanmar.

Before the final blessing, Sr. Carmen Villalón Letelier, representing the General Superior, expressed gratitude to the bishops, clergy, religious, and faithful in attendance. She also thanked all who supported Sr. Esther throughout her vocational journey.

Sr. Esther offered her thanks in both English and Spanish, acknowledging those who guided and prayed for her. To accommodate the global community of the Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation, the entire ceremony was live-streamed on social media.

Founded in Spain in 1857 by St. Maria Rosa Molas, the Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation now serve in 21 countries across four continents. The congregation first established its presence in Myanmar on May 8, 2010. Currently, ten other Myanmar sisters in the congregation have made temporary vows.

By RVA Sgaw Karen Service