A total of 173 Catholic mothers from In Jang Dung Parish in the Diocese of Myitkyina gathered for their quarterly recollection and prayer program at Christ the King Church in Rada Kawng on September 5, 2026, drawing inspiration from the life of St. Teresa of Calcutta and renewing their commitment to faith and family.

The spiritual gathering began at 9:00 a.m. and brought together mothers from the four communities of In Jang Dung Parish. The recollection is held once every three months, with each community taking turns to host the gathering.

Mothers: The Spiritual Pillars of the Family

Fr. Joseph Chwar Thar, RVA Lisu Coordinator, led the recollection, focusing his talks on faith, the spiritual role of mothers in their families, and the importance of remaining faithful to God, particularly during difficult times.

Fr. Chwar Thar emphasized that mothers have an important responsibility in nurturing the faith of their children and strengthening the spiritual life of their families.

“Mothers have a very important role in the family. When a mother is strong in faith, the family has a firm spiritual foundation,” he said. “The faith of children depends greatly on the faith and example of their mothers.”

He explained that everyone places faith or trust in something. Some trust in other people, some in money, and others in fate or worldly things. All these things, however, can change, while God alone remains unchanging. Quoting Hebrews 13:8, he reminded the participants, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

He also encouraged the mothers to care for their spiritual lives as faithfully as they care for their physical needs.

“We remember that our bodies need food and drink every day, but sometimes we forget that our souls also need spiritual nourishment,” he said.

Reflecting on the biblical teaching that “faith comes from hearing” (Romans 10:17), Fr. Chwar Thar encouraged the mothers to listen to God’s voice and make the reading of Scripture part of their daily lives. He compared reading the Bible to searching for a precious treasure.

“Reading the Bible is like searching with your own hands for a hidden treasure,” he said. “The Word of God is a treasure, and we should continue searching for that treasure every day.”

Faith as the Backbone of Christian Life

Fr. Chwar Thar also spoke about obstacles to faith, including human reasoning, suffering, and doubt. He noted that believing in God may seem easier during joyful times, but faith is truly tested when people face difficulties.

“It is easy to seek Christ when we are happy, but it can be difficult to continue believing when we are suffering,” he said. “We are called to remain faithful until the end.”

He described faith as the “backbone of Christian life,” explaining that just as the human body cannot properly stand or move without a backbone, Christian life cannot stand firmly without faith. He added that faith allows Christians to experience a foretaste of the Kingdom of God because they live with the conviction that God is always with them.

“Whatever happens, we must believe that God is beside us and that He will not abandon us,” he said.

Mother Teresa’s Message: “Do It Anyway”

The gathering was held on the feast day of St. Teresa of Calcutta, popularly known as Mother Teresa. During the Holy Mass, Fr. Chwar Thar drew inspiration from her life and shared the well-known “Do It Anyway” message with the congregation.

He reminded the mothers that people may sometimes be unreasonable or misunderstand their good intentions, but Christians are still called to forgive. People may question their motives, but they should continue to be kind. Their honesty may sometimes be met with deception, yet they should remain honest. The good they do may be forgotten, but they should continue doing good.

Drawing from the message, he emphasized that Christians should continue to give their best even when their efforts are not recognized or appreciated by others. He particularly highlighted its concluding spiritual message: in the end, what matters is one’s relationship with God rather than human recognition or approval.

“God does not call us to be successful; He calls us to be faithful,” he said during his homily, encouraging the mothers to live out this faithfulness in their families and daily responsibilities by continuing to love, forgive, serve, and do good even when their sacrifices go unnoticed.

A Grateful Community

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mothers’ Association President S Ma Nan expressed gratitude to Fr. Chwar Thar for his spiritual guidance and encouragement.

“We are very grateful to Father for giving us words of encouragement that strengthen us greatly in our faith,” she said. “On behalf of all the mothers, I pray that Father may continue his journey and ministry with God’s grace and strength, overcoming every difficulty he may encounter.”

The Holy Mass began at 11:30 a.m. Following the Eucharistic celebration, the participants shared lunch together, bringing the quarterly gathering to a close in a spirit of fellowship, gratitude, and renewed faith.

The quarterly recollection program for mothers in In Jang Dung Parish reflects the Diocese of Myitkyina’s commitment to strengthening family life and lay spirituality, recognizing mothers as essential pillars of faith transmission in their communities.

By RVA Lisu Service