The Feast of St. Francis Xavier was celebrated with special joy and gratitude at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Insein on December 3, marking not only the mission of the great saint but also 50 years of dedicated service by the Sisters of St. Francis Xavier (SFX) in the parish.

The festive Mass, presided over by Bishop Raymond Wai Lin Htun, Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon, and concelebrated by Bishop Maurice Nyunt Wai of Mawlamyine Diocese and 17 priests, also honored the Golden Jubilee of one sister and the Silver Jubilee of three others.

Msgr. Andrea Ferrante, Chargé d’Affaires to Myanmar, delivered the homily, conveying the encouragement of Pope Leo XIV. “The Holy Father invites us to pray for communion and unity—beginning in our families, parishes, dioceses, and the universal Church,” he said. “We ask for peace, and we know that there is no peace without conversion of heart.”

He directly thanked God for the sisters’ half-century of presence and highlighted their charism of serving “children, young people, the poor, and families.”

“You dedicate yourselves to children, young people, the poor, and families. Your charism—Rooted in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with deep faith, called to serve the needy in poverty of spirit—expresses your identity and mission.”

He encouraged the sisters to rebuild and strengthen their missionary presence with the compassion of Christ and the zeal of St. Francis Xavier. “He is not only a model but a companion on our journey. He brought Christ’s love to the peripheries, overcoming hardships through the certainty of God’s love,” he said.

Following the homily, all SFX sisters present renewed their religious vows in a solemn moment of commitment.

Bishop Maurice Nyunt Wai reflected on the grace of the milestone. “The reason we celebrate Jubilees is to give thanks for God’s providence. We honor the jubilarians because they are treasures of heaven,” he said.

The celebration rooted itself in a rich history. The SFX mission in the parish began humbly in March 1975, when three pioneering sisters—Sr. Salet, Sr. Clare, and Sr. Rita Ah Chaw—were sent to establish a Catechist Training School. For nearly 22 years, the community had no resident parish priest, with Mass offered weekly by a visiting priest from the Major Seminary.

Life was simple and challenging. The dormitory floor was bare ground, the area dense with forest, and the sisters took on roles from teaching catechism and music to managing household duties and caring for health needs.

Sr. Rose Philip Nan Nwe Pyone expressed deep gratitude on behalf of the congregation, thanking the clergy and parishioners for their support. The community closed the celebration with prayers for the sisters’ continued fidelity and missionary zeal, honoring a legacy that has shaped parish life for generations.

By RVA Sgaw Karen Service