Fifty-three mothers from St. Michael Parish gathered for their monthly recollection on September 5 at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Pammati, in Myitkyina Diocese, coming together to deepen their faith, strengthen unity, and encourage one another in their Christian and family life.

The monthly gathering began with an ASIPA Bible-sharing session, during which the mothers reflected on Matthew 18:15-20 and shared their personal experiences of God’s goodness in their daily lives. The passage, which speaks of reconciliation and the power of prayer in community, resonated deeply with the participants as they opened their hearts to one another.

‘We Need to Take Care of Ourselves First’

The session was followed by a spiritual reflection led by Fr. Michael Tu Lia, parish priest, who encouraged the mothers to take care of their emotional and spiritual well-being so that they could continue caring for their families and serving others.

“We need to take care of ourselves first. When we are emotionally exhausted and discouraged, it becomes difficult to give strength to others. We need to regain our strength and grow stronger spiritually and emotionally,” Fr. Michael said.

He addressed the challenge of jealousy and the tendency to compare oneself with others, encouraging the mothers to celebrate the achievements of others and learn from their success rather than seeing it as a personal failure.

“Another person’s success is not your failure, and another person’s opportunity is not the loss of your opportunity. Instead of being jealous, learn from the success of others,” he said.

God’s Unique Purpose for Each Person

Fr. Michael reminded the mothers that God has a unique purpose for each person and encouraged them to focus on their own gifts, responsibilities, and efforts.

“Do not compare yourself with others. God has different plans and purposes for each of us. What matters is how we use what we have been given,” he said.

The reflection also encouraged the mothers to respond to their emotions with wisdom and to learn from their experiences, particularly in family relationships. The parish priest emphasized that emotional maturity and spiritual grounding go hand in hand in building strong families and communities.

Lu Awn, a leader among the mothers, also shared words of encouragement with the participants, calling them to remain united in faith and continue supporting one another. Her message reinforced the importance of solidarity among the women of the parish.

Holy Mass and Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta

The monthly recollection concluded with the celebration of Holy Mass, presided over by Fr. Michael Tu Lia. In his homily, he emphasized that God is love and reflected on the life and witness of St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), whose feast day is celebrated on September 5.

Drawing inspiration from Mother Teresa’s example of radical love and service, Fr. Michael called on the mothers to embody these virtues in their own families and communities. He reminded them that even small acts of love and kindness can have a profound impact on those around them.

The gathering gave the 53 mothers an opportunity to pray together, reflect on Scripture, renew their spiritual strength, and strengthen their bonds of unity and mutual support. For many of the participants, the monthly recollection serves as a vital source of encouragement and connection in their busy lives as mothers and caregivers.

The ASIPA (Asian Integral Pastoral Approach) program, which formed the basis of the Bible-sharing session, is a pastoral methodology developed by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences to promote participatory and community-based faith formation in parishes across Asia.

By RVA Rawang Service