More than 500 Catholics gathered at St. Columban Cathedral in Aung Nan, Myitkyina, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, to celebrate a special Mass marking the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The celebration called on the faithful to pray together and renew their responsibility to protect the environment and care for God’s creation.

The 10:00 a.m. Mass was presided over by Msgr. Peter Hka Awng Tu, who encouraged the congregation to recognize creation as God’s gift and to work together to protect the natural environment for present and future generations.

‘Let Us Pray Together for God’s Creation’

In his homily, Msgr. Peter Hka Awng Tu drew particular attention to the Gospel of Matthew and reflected on the importance of unity in prayer. Quoting Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:20, he said, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

He reminded the faithful that prayer brings people together before God and called on the congregation to unite their hearts in praying for creation.

“We must be of one heart and one mind as we ask the Lord for what this world cannot give,” he said. “Let us continue to pray together for God’s creation and for the protection of our environment.”

His homily emphasized that caring for creation is not simply an individual concern but a shared responsibility requiring prayer, unity, and concrete commitment.

Young People Highlight the Journey of Water

As part of the celebration, young people presented a powerful reflection on the importance of water, tracing its symbolic journey from the mountains of northern Kachin State through Putao, Tanghpre, and the Ayeyarwady River.

They began with Putao, a remote mountainous region in the far north of Kachin State, surrounded by forests, mountains, streams, and rivers. They explained how water begins its journey from the mountains and forests before flowing toward the plains.

The young people described this water as a gift filled with God’s grace—a gift that sustains human beings, animals, forests, and the whole of creation.

“Water flowing from the mountains reminds us of God’s gift of life,” they said. “It gives life not only to human beings but to all living creatures and to creation itself.”

Their reflection then moved to Tanghpre, where the Mali Hka and N’Mai Hka rivers meet to form the Ayeyarwady River. The meeting of the two rivers was presented as a powerful symbol of unity. Just as two rivers come together and continue as one, the young people encouraged people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds to live as one human family, sharing with and caring for one another.

“The Ayeyarwady reminds us to come together,” they said. “Even though we may belong to different ethnic groups, we should live like members of one family and learn to share with one another.”

The Ayeyarwady: A Lifeline for Myanmar

The reflection continued with the Ayeyarwady River, one of Myanmar’s most important waterways and a source of life for communities along its course. The young people described the river as a “lifeline” for the country because its waters sustain countless lives, communities, and ecosystems.

They stressed that water is essential to every human being and to the whole created world. From the mountains and forests to the plains, water connects communities and sustains life.

Reflecting on the biblical story of creation, they invited the congregation to recognize water as a precious gift from God and to become more aware of their responsibility to protect it.

“Let us ask God to help us recognize the gift of water and understand our responsibility to protect and care for it,” they said.

Three Waters Become One

In a symbolic action during the celebration, water brought from the three places—Putao, Tanghpre, and the Ayeyarwady—was poured together into one container. The gesture symbolized how water connects people, communities, and the whole of creation. It also expressed a commitment to protect creation as a gift God entrusted to humanity.

The water was then offered to God with thanksgiving and a renewed promise to care for creation. The community prayed that God would bless the waters of Kachin State and Myanmar, preserve the rivers, streams, forests, and mountains from which they flow, and protect all those whose lives depend upon them.

They also prayed that the waters may continue to sustain life and that the communities living along them may enjoy peace, well-being, and harmony with creation.

The celebration concluded as a reminder that water is not merely a natural resource but a shared gift that connects people, sustains life, and calls everyone to responsibility. Through prayer and the symbolic gathering of water, the faithful renewed their commitment to care for their common home and safeguard God’s creation for future generations.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) has announced that all Catholic parishes across the country are requested to celebrate Creation Day on September 6, 2026, using the newly approved formulary and lectionary for the “Mass for the Care of Creation.”

By RVA Lisu Service