The Assumption Church in Mwehauk Parish in Pathein Diocese filled with the sound of Pwo Karen hymns on July 12 as the faithful gathered for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, celebrated in their native language, followed by an introduction to the RVA Pwo Karen Program—a media ministry now reaching listeners across 12 ethnic languages in Myanmar.

The 7:30 a.m. Holy Mass was presided over by Msgr. Pius Win Than, concelebrated with Fr. Zuzel, the parish priest. Sisters, catechists, the RVA Pwo Karen staff, and the faithful gathered together in prayer. The celebration in the Pwo Karen language allowed the congregation to worship and participate fully in their mother tongue.

Homily: Examining the Soil of Our Hearts

In his homily, Msgr. Pius reflected on the Parable of the Sower, calling on the faithful to examine their hearts and ask: “Among the four kinds of soil, which one represents my heart today?”

“The seed represents the Word of God. Whether it bears fruit depends on the condition of our hearts,” he said. “Like the good soil, we are called to receive the Gospel with faith, keep it in our hearts, and live it out each day so that it may bear abundant fruit in our lives.”

Msgr. Pius noted that faith is growing weaker in many places, even among Catholics. “We are called to remain faithful to our Christian vocation by living according to God’s Word and carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to us,” he said.

He reminded the congregation that “faith in God never leaves us poor. Instead, it enriches our lives with hope, strength, and grace.”

Introducing the RVA Pwo Karen Program

After the Holy Mass, Msgr. Pius introduced the RVA Pwo Karen Program to the faithful. He shared that the service is led by five dedicated staff members, including a sister and three youth, who are actively involved in preaching the Gospel in the Pwo Karen language, producing faith-building programs, and distributing spiritual content.

Ms. Margarita Nant Thazin Oo shared details about the development of RVA broadcasting programs in Myanmar. She was pleased to announce that while previously the Gospel was being preached through 10 language-based services in Myanmar, the recent launch of two more RVA services—Akha and Kayan—has now expanded the total to 12.

“This expansion is helping to further expand the reach of Gospel and faith programs in ethnic languages in Myanmar,” she said.

Ms. Margarita also explained how the Pwo Karen believers and audiences around the world can easily access the program anytime, anywhere through social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and the RVA website.

Gratitude and Encouragement

Fr. Zuzel expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the RVA Pwo Karen Service team for their dedicated ministry and valuable contribution to the Church through media evangelization.

He encouraged the faithful to respect and value their traditional culture and to love and preserve their mother tongue. “Through this program, you can not only listen to the good news but also gain much knowledge and wisdom,” he said, urging everyone to watch the RVA Pwo Karen Program and share it to reach a wider audience.

Msgr. Pius thanked Fr. Zuzel and all the faithful for their warm welcome and generous hospitality. He explained that the program helps preserve and promote the Pwo Karen language while offering valuable spiritual and educational content—covering topics such as family life, youth, care for creation, the Gospel, lives of the saints, messages from the Holy Father, triple dialogue and news from the Diocese of Pathein.

As the celebration concluded, the message of the parable echoed: the seed had been sown, and in the hearts of the Pwo Karen faithful, it continued to find good soil.

By RVA Pwo Karen Service