Catholic clergy, religious, and hundreds of faithful gathered on Wednesday at the newly designated National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Sin Lan Village to celebrate the saint’s annual feast day, seeking spiritual strength amid Myanmar’s ongoing crisis.

The Solemn Mass was presided over by Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay Archdiocese. Participants from Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, and surrounding regions joined in prayer at the site, which honors the 20th-century Italian Capuchin friar renowned for his piety and reported miracles.

‘Padre Pio Grit His Teeth and Bore All These Sufferings’

Delivering his homily, Archbishop Marco Tin Win reflected on the life and trials of Saint Padre Pio, highlighting his physical endurance of the stigmata—the five holy wounds of Christ—for 50 years until shortly before he died in 1968, as well as the ecclesiastical isolation he endured during his ministry.

“Padre Pio grit his teeth and bore all these sufferings together with Christ,” the Archbishop said, urging the congregation to draw spiritual resilience from the saint’s example amidst Myanmar’s ongoing crisis.

“When we speak of Myanmar today, we are suffering in various ways. People are homeless, fleeing their homes and farms, facing food shortages, suffering economic collapse, and enduring crises with uncertain futures,” Archbishop Marco stated. “Prayer is not an escape route for the weak; it is the strength of believers. May we carry our own crosses alongside Lord Christ in our sufferings.”

He also emphasized Padre Pio’s dedication to the sacrament of reconciliation, noting that the saint often spent up to 16 hours a day in the confessional offering spiritual relief to pilgrims.

Pilgrims Share Testimonies of Faith and Hope

For the local community and visiting pilgrims, the feast day provided a source of spiritual comfort amidst hardship.

Ruth Mary, a resident of Sin Lan Village, expressed gratitude for the shrine’s presence in her community, noting that she attended the nine-day Novena leading up to the feast to pray for her heart condition and livelihood.

Pilgrims traveling from neighboring areas echoed similar sentiments.

“Listening to the Archbishop’s homily was deeply encouraging,” said Patricia, a pilgrim from Pyin Oo Lwin. “Praying here brings true peace to my heart.”

Regina, another attendee from Pyin Oo Lwin, recounted personal answers to prayer through the saint’s intercession, adding that Padre Pio’s life continues to offer a practical model for patience and perseverance.

First-time pilgrim Mary Thomas from Mandalay emphasized that national and global harmony remained at the forefront of her prayers.

“The very first thing I prayed for upon arriving was for peace to return to Myanmar as quickly as possible, for global peace, and for an end to wars,” she said.

The newly designated National Shrine in Sin Lan Village has become a place of pilgrimage and prayer for Catholics across Myanmar, offering a spiritual refuge in difficult times. The nine-day Novena leading up to the feast day drew hundreds of faithful, many carrying intentions for healing, peace, and the well-being of their families.

By RVA Myanmar Service