About sixty priests from the Diocese of Myitkyina stepped away from their pastoral duties from December 2 to 5 for their annual spiritual retreat, focusing this year on healing inner wounds and rebuilding the core of their vocation: communion.

Guided by Fr. Cyprian Aung Win, Rector of the Yangon Theology Major Seminary, the retreat became a space for priests to reconnect with their calling beyond administrative tasks. Fr. Cyprian centered his reflections on the theme of relationships, challenging the priests to see themselves first as “men of communion” in a divided world.

“We were chosen to be with Him before we were sent to serve,” Fr. Cyprian reminded them, emphasizing that their identity flows from a personal relationship with Christ. He addressed the often-unspoken struggles priests carry, from exhaustion and misunderstanding to emotional hurt.

“Pope Francis has warned that the worst thing a priest can do is isolate himself,” he said, directly tackling the temptation to withdraw under pressure. “We were not created for isolation but for communion.”

Fr. Cyprian offered practical wisdom, comparing relationships to a bank account requiring consistent “deposits” of kindness, listening, and humility. He stressed that priestly fraternity itself is a powerful witness. “The devil attacks communion because he fears its power,” he noted.

A key point of reflection was the necessity for priests to receive love before giving it. “Daily prayer, silence, and resting in God’s presence are not optional for a priest—they are his oxygen,” Fr. Cyprian said.

The retreat concluded with Benediction and a final Mass at St. Columbun Cathedral, followed by a group photo capturing a renewed sense of unity. Priests left expressing a rekindled zeal, carrying back to their parishes a refreshed commitment to be instruments of healing and connection for their communities.

By RVA Kachin Lisu Service