RVA Lisu celebrated RVA Day 2026 at Ye Pu Village in Mogok on September 17, bringing together around 800 people from Mogok and surrounding areas for a historic gathering marking the first time the event was held in the region.

Listeners from about 10 villages came to take part in the celebration. It was the first time RVA Day of Lisu Service was held in Mogok, which belongs to the Diocese of Lashio. The gathering was especially significant as many of those attending were listeners from different Christian denominations, not only Catholics.

A Celebration of Resurrection Faith

The celebration began with a Thanksgiving Mass at 9:00 a.m. Fr. Augustine Chwar Si presided over the Mass, with Mogok Parish Priest Fr. Romanus Dai Ze joining the celebration. Fr. Joseph Chwar Thar, coordinator of RVA Lisu, delivered the homily.

Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, Fr. Chwar Thar spoke about St. Paul’s witness to the Resurrection of Jesus and connected it with the mission of RVA.

“St. Paul witnessed that Jesus is truly risen. His whole life was centered on this message and the Gospel,” he said. “RVA also proclaims this message: Jesus is truly risen, and He is with us.”

Drawing from the day’s Gospel, Luke 7:36–50, he also reflected on the woman who approached Jesus with repentance and love.

“She opened her heart, wept at the feet of Jesus, and was forgiven because she loved Him deeply,” he said. “RVA Lisu is spreading the Word of God—the message of God’s love. We need to receive it with repentant and open hearts.”

Evangelization in the Digital Age

Fr. Chwar Thar also spoke about evangelization in the digital age, saying that social media can become a place where people encounter Christ.

“Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. He comes to us where we are,” he said. “Today, many people spend much of their time online and on social media. Jesus can also come to us through these means to show us His love and power.”

He encouraged listeners not to lose interest in the Word of God amid the constant entertainment available online.

“The Word of God may sometimes seem less exciting in today’s digital world, where everyone is searching for something entertaining,” he said. “But Christ is the truth and the life. The truth sets us free, while unhealthy attachment to social media can enslave us.”

The Thanksgiving Mass concluded at around 10:30 a.m., followed by the second part of the RVA Day program, which continued until about 2:00 p.m. During the session, Fr. Chwar Thar introduced the participants to the history and mission of RVA Lisu and explained its eight main program categories. Participants also learned about the work behind producing RVA Lisu’s audio, video, news, and faith-based content.

‘Having RVA Lisu Is Very Useful’

Fr. Romanus Dai Ze encouraged the Lisu community to make good use of RVA Lisu programs.

“I have been listening to RVA Kachin since I was young, and it has been very inspiring,” he said. “The Lisu service came later, but I encourage all Lisu listeners to listen to RVA Lisu regularly. They are doing their best, and having RVA Lisu is very useful for the Lisu community.”

Fr. Augustine Chwar Si also expressed his appreciation that RVA Lisu chose Mogok for the celebration.

“Let us thank RVA Lisu for choosing to celebrate RVA Day in Mogok,” he said. “Today we have learned how much time and energy it takes to produce even a short video. They have to find reliable sources, record the audio, select relevant pictures and music, and finally produce the video.”

He encouraged participants to value such content rather than spending too much time watching unhelpful videos on platforms such as TikTok.

Listeners Share Their Experiences

The program also allowed listeners to share their experiences.

“I always listen to RVA Lisu, but I did not know how to react to or interact with the posts. Now I know,” said 53-year-old Lina Byar Thar Mi.

Another participant said, “I had never heard about RVA Lisu before today. Now I understand how useful it is, and I especially like the eight program categories.”

Christopher Byar Thar, catechist of Ye Pu Village, encouraged the Lisu community to use modern media as a source of knowledge and spiritual growth.

“Many of our Lisu people live in remote areas, but today we need to keep learning and developing ourselves,” he said. “Let us open our hearts and find new strength and wisdom through RVA.”

During a question-and-answer session, participants raised several questions about RVA Lisu’s programs. One participant asked whether listeners could continue requesting songs. Fr. Chwar Thar explained that RVA Lisu had previously accepted song requests but that copyright restrictions now need to be considered when publishing music online. Another participant asked whether RVA Lisu could report on the current situation in Myanmar. Fr. Chwar Thar explained that RVA Lisu approaches news from the perspective of the Church and seeks to present its reports with a spiritual and pastoral focus.

The celebration concluded with a lucky draw, with RVA T-shirts, keychains, mugs, and other gifts presented to participants. A young boy won the top prize, a Redmi Note 14 Pro smartphone.

The first RVA Lisu Day in Mogok ended in a joyful atmosphere with a grand community lunch, giving participants an opportunity to share fellowship before returning to their respective villages. The large turnout, including many non-Catholic Lisu listeners, reflected the wide reach of RVA Lisu and its mission to use modern media to share the Gospel, provide useful information, and strengthen communities.

By RVA Lisu Service