In a country grappling with ongoing conflict and displacement, 44 young nuns from the Sisters of St. Francis Xavier (SFX) completed an intensive 10-day training program in Pathein, equipping themselves for a mission that increasingly blends spiritual comfort with humanitarian response.

Held from January 10 to 19, the Junior Program is an annual formation for sisters who have not yet taken perpetual vows. This year’s session had a first-time focus: Social Pastoral training. Organizers said the shift directly reflects the sisters’ lived reality, where ministry in remote and conflict-affected areas requires both pastoral care and social services.

“Our junior sisters are assigned to various ministries across Myanmar, many of them in remote and conflict-affected areas,” explained Sr. Rose Philip Nan Nwe Pyone, the Junior Mistress. She noted the logistical and financial difficulties of gathering participants, as some sisters had to undertake long, costly journeys, leaving gaps in their home ministries.

The program was split into two phases. The first, led by veteran missionary Fr. C. Amalraj SJ, covered Catholic Social Teaching, human dignity, and justice. The second phase, facilitated by two other Jesuits, focused on practical community engagement, advocacy, and ethical leadership.

The most moving moment came from a personal testimony. Sr. Angela Kawa Htu San shared her experience of constant displacement due to armed conflict since her first vows in 2022. “I kept asking myself why this was happening,” she said, describing a ministry defined by presence amid gunfire and fear. “God did not send me to do great works, but to be present with people who are suffering.”

The program concluded with a symbolic sending ceremony on January 19. A cross, which expresses God’s love and sacrifice, and is a symbol of reconciliation and forgiveness, a candle represents the light of Christ, symbolizing faith and the presence of God. It provides hope in the darkness. A Bible is the living Word of God, the foundation of faith and mission, the source of truth and wisdom. It is also the guiding symbol for missionary work. A staff that represents care and protection, and also indicates the authority that comes with responsibility in religious work. And sandals that represent a life of being ready to walk with the people, ready to serve, and sent forth to do ministry. Five items were presented to represent the sisters’ mission of love, light, guidance, protection, and readiness to walk alongside those they serve.

Bishop Henry Eikhlein, who attended the closing, encouraged the sisters, stating that continuous learning enhances the quality of their life and service.

Despite the immense challenges of organizing such a gathering, the congregation remains committed. The training underscores a determined effort to prepare a new generation of nuns to serve a wounded nation with both faith and practical compassion.

By RVA Pwo Karen Service