On Monday, November 24, 2025, the faithful of Pathein Diocese gathered not just to pray, but to make a profound commitment: to place education at the very heart of their mission, declaring it the essential foundation for a peaceful and prosperous future.

The Jubilee of World Education celebration began with a solemn 6:00 AM Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Pathein, presided over by Bishop Henry Eikhlein of Pathein Diocese and joined by fourteen concelebrating priests, religious, teachers, and students. The diverse congregation was a living testament to a shared belief—that forming minds and spirits is the Church’s critical work in a challenging world.

Bishop Henry delivered a powerful homily that would set the tone for the entire day. “Education is the way to peace,” he stated, warning that a society deprived of proper learning forfeits its future. Weaving together Burmese proverbs and biblical stories, from the steadfast faith of Daniel to the profound generosity of the poor widow, he framed education as a sacred act of giving one’s best. He called for a unified effort to strengthen a diocesan education system that faces serious obstacles, urging everyone to see education not as mere academic instruction, but as the holistic formation of the human person.

A Day of Sober Assessment and Hopeful Vision

Following the Mass, over 120 educators, administrators, and religious leaders moved to the diocesan hall, where the scale and depth of the diocese’s educational apostolate came into full view. The day was structured as a comprehensive review, a “Jubilee” in the truest sense—a time for gratitude, renewal, and honest assessment.

Bishop Henry opened the program, outlining a vision inspired by the Second Vatican Council’s “three languages of education”: the intellect, the hand, and art. He stressed that the diocese’s future hinges on ensuring every child from 7 to 18 receives a proper education.

What followed was a rolling out of the diocese’s extensive educational landscape. Fr. Florence Aung Kyaw Oo traced the historical journey, from the establishment of the Diocesan Education Commission in 1997 to the present day, emphasizing the Church’s role as “Mother and Teacher.”

Saya Anthony and Team from the Episcopal Commission for Education (CBCM)presented an overview of Catholic education in Myanmar, highlighting scholarship programs for clergy, religious, and laity. They also outlined procedures for submitting scholarship requests through the Episcopal Commission for Education (ECE).

The human face of this mission was revealed in poignant presentations. Sayama Naw Thazin Chit detailed the rapid growth of St. John’s Private School, founded in 2017, and its motto: “Bitter discipline aims for the sweet of the future.”

Sr. Cecilia San Yu Maw shared the immense responsibility of caring for approximately 1,500 children in diocesan orphanages, while candidly listing pressing challenges like rising costs and a shortage of supporters. Reports from boarding houses, special education programs, and the KMSS’s Learning Passport Myanmar initiative painted a picture of a Church deeply invested in reaching the most vulnerable.

From Reflection to a Roadmap for the Future

The afternoon shifted from presentation to strategy. Led by Fr. Florence, participants engaged in frank discussions centered on three critical questions: What is lacking? What needs to be developed? What other suggestions can be made?

This collective brainstorming culminated in a series of concrete announcements from Bishop Henry, transforming reflection into a tangible action plan. He declared that all presentations would be compiled into an official Pathein Diocese Education Jubilee Record Book and announced the establishment of a yearly Education Review from 2026 to 2030 to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.

Other key decisions included preparing for the 30th-anniversary Diamond Jubilee, focusing special attention on students who have not passed Grade 12, and a continued strengthening of the Safeguarding Policy across all institutions.

The Jubilee celebration concluded with a final blessing, but its true end is yet to come. It ended in a call to action, sending forth a community with a renewed roadmap for one of its most vital missions—not just to teach, but to nurture a generation that embodies the wisdom, virtue, and faith to build a better world.

By RVA Pwo Karen Service