Myanmar’s Sisters Make Lifelong Vows of Service
The Diocese of Pathein celebrated the religious commitments of 13 sisters on Saturday, as four made their First Profession and nine their Perpetual Profession with the Sisters of St. Francis Xavier.
The solemn Mass on February 1 at St. Peter’s Cathedral was presided over by Bishop Henry Eikhlein of Pathein Diocese, with His Eminence Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon Archdiocese delivering the homily. They were joined by over 40 priests, religious, and hundreds of faithful.
Cardinal Bo set a poignant tone, framing the vows within the context of Myanmar’s suffering. He reflected on the Gospel image of a grain of wheat that must die to bear fruit, noting the sisters’ promises were made on land “wet with tears, endurance, and faith.”
“God does not call you to peace,” he told them, “but to open the way for peace.” He urged the newly professed to learn “daily faithfulness” and prayed that their poverty would walk with the poor and their purity heal wounded relationships.
The celebration was grounded in personal stories of mission. Sr. Cecilia Pau Sang Ji Awng, who made her Perpetual Profession, shared a transformative moment from her first assignment. A local man told her, “If you want to talk with me, don’t talk about God.” This led her community to shift from direct preaching to building relationships through shared meals, language, and culture.
“We do not bring Jesus to the people,” she realized. “Jesus is already present among them. Our role is to help them discover the seeds of the Gospel already planted in their lives.”
Sr. Genevieve Nant July Aye, one of the newly professed, shared her struggle when her father was imprisoned during her postulant year. “I was confused and questioned God,” she said. Through prayer, she found strength and a deeper compassion for others facing hardship.
In a nation grappling with conflict and uncertainty, the professions served as a vivid sign of hope—a declaration that the call to serve endures, and that faith continues to take root and flourish even in the most wounded soil.
By RVA Pwo Karen Service
