In an emotional homecoming, Rev. Fr. Vincent Mahn Thu Hlaing was honored by his home parish, Marygone Village, Ywegone Parish in Pathein Diocese, on Sunday, celebrating 38 years of priesthood and a deliberate choice to return to his roots despite battling an incurable illness.

The jubilee Mass at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on December 7 was presided over by Bishop Henry Eikhlein of Pathein Diocese, joined by 21 concelebrating priests and a large gathering of faithful from Ywegone Parish.

Bishop Henry framed the celebration as a testament to God’s faithfulness. He noted the dramatic growth of the local church since Fr. Vincent’s ordination in 1987, when the diocese had about 30 priests. “Today, as of 2025, there are 110 Catholic priests,” he said, calling it a sign of a vibrant, active diocese.

The heart of the celebration was Fr. Vincent’s personal testimony. After serving for over a decade in Pathein Diocese, he spent more than 20 years in ministry in the United States before returning to Myanmar.

“Some asked me if it was worth it to come back after living in the United States for over 26 years with an incurable disease,” he shared with the congregation. “I said that it was worth it because I was returning to my community.”

He expressed an unwavering commitment to his clerical family, stating he could not abandon the Pathein clergy community. With profound simplicity, he reframed his suffering: “Suffering is never in vain, and I consider this to be my reward. So, it was worth it for me to suffer from this disease. I thank God for everything.”

Bishop Henry connected Fr. Vincent’s lifelong fidelity to the ongoing need for vocations, urging parents to nurture such calls in their children. The celebration concluded with prayers, gifts, and messages of admiration for a priest whose journey—from a rural ordination to international ministry and a purposeful return home—stands as a powerful witness of faith and belonging to his community.

By RVA Pwo Karen Service