Perched at 15,000 feet near the China border, a tiny Catholic community of just 15 families celebrated a historic double blessing on April 19: the blessing of their newly built Christ the King Church and the 25th jubilee of two beloved catechists.

Bishop John Mung Ngawn La Sam of Myitkyina Diocese presided over the Mass, joined by Bishop Emeritus Francis Daw Tang, around ten priests, deacons, religious sisters, and brothers. During the liturgy, 50 parishioners received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

A Remote but Faithful Community

Thangdung village lies in Hpimaw Township, part of Chipwi Parish in northeastern Kachin State, directly on the China border. The parish, established in 1996 from Wai Maw Parish, now serves 330 Catholic households across the region. But in Thangdung itself, only 15 Catholic families live and worship.

The new church building was constructed in just 11 months, from May 17, 2025, to April 19, 2026, replacing a small, deteriorating wooden structure.

Homily: God’s Grace Through Hardship

In his homily on the Third Sunday of Easter, Bishop John reflected on the Emmaus road encounter, reminding the faithful that the risen Lord meets them in ordinary daily experiences, in prayer, in Scripture, and especially in the Eucharist.

He emphasized that jubilees—whether 25, 50, or 100 years—are ultimately fruits of God’s grace. “Without God, we are nothing,” he said. He noted that God calls people not because of their worthiness but out of love, often working through human weakness, as seen in the calling of David.

Acknowledging the catechists’ journey, the bishop said there had been “tears and laughter,” but God’s grace sustains them through all trials. “Our pain in Christ is never wasted,” he affirmed.

He warned against relying solely on worldly success. “Wisdom, wealth, health, and happiness without God are in vain,” he said. Drawing from a Kachin proverb—“skillful in water, yet dying in water”—he reminded the congregation that human strength is fragile without God’s guidance.

After the Mass, catechist John Se De Si expressed heartfelt gratitude. “We thank God for this new church,” he said. “Before, we had a very small and deteriorating wooden structure. Now we have a proper place to worship.”

Honoring Two Dedicated Catechists

The Mass also celebrated the 25th Silver Jubilee of catechists Joseph Galau Ting Bomb and John Mangkyi Hawng Hkawng. The community presented them with gifts and congratulations.

The bishop concluded by urging the faithful to keep the church as a sacred place of prayer and worship, not a marketplace, and prayed that all who come to Christ the King Church would receive abundant blessings.

By RVA Jinghpaw and Lisu Services