Thousands of faithful packed St. Mary’s Cathedral on April 9 as His Eminence Cardinal Charles Bo and Fr. Edward Sein Myint marked their Golden Jubilee of priestly ordination, a celebration of five decades of service to the Church in Myanmar.

The 9:00 a.m. Mass began with a procession led by the Salvation Army’s flute band. Bishops, priests, and religious gathered from across the country.

Papal and Vatican Tributes

Bishop Raymond Wai Lin Htun read a message from Pope Leo XIV, who congratulated Cardinal Bo for his “long mission entrusted to you, carried out with great zeal” and his “inspiring works promoting the Christian concept of family.” The Pope imparted his apostolic blessing.

Bishop Francis Than Htun then read a letter from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, who praised Cardinal Bo as a “sign of unity and communion” and a “prophetic missionary spirit.”

Homily: A Life Rooted in Christ

Fr. Bosco Bo Bo, SDB, delivered the homily. He noted Cardinal Bo’s personal motto from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

He traced the Cardinal’s life through the number seven: baptized after seven days, first Communion and Confirmation at seven, entered the Salesians at 17, ordained priest at 27, bishop at 37, Bishop of Pathein at 47, Archbishop of Yangon in 2003, and created cardinal at 67. He has served in seven dioceses.

“He has never been discouraged,” Fr. Bosco said. “The bigger the leader, the smaller the ego.”

He described Cardinal Bo as a “voice of the voiceless” and a “suffering shepherd, together with Myanmar citizens.”

Papal Representative’s Message

Msgr. Andrea Ferrante, Papal Representative to Myanmar, expressed gratitude for the jubilarians’ “joyful and fruitful service.” He urged priests to remain rooted in the Lord through prayer, especially in difficult times.

Fr. Edward’s Words of Thanks

Fr. Edward Sein Myint thanked the Holy Father, Cardinal Bo, and all who supported him. He recalled the image of the Good Shepherd carrying a sick lamb. “Love is not in the air. Love is a reality,” he said.

Fr. Edward Sein Myint was the second coordinator of the Radio Veritas Asia Myanmar language service after Fr. Tony Thein Aung. Fr. Edward arrived at RVA in Manila at the end of 1988 and started to broadcast at the beginning of January 1989. And he worked till May 1994. Altogether five years and five months.

Cardinal Bo’s Reflection

Cardinal Bo humbly accepted the praise as “instruction for my future days.” He thanked God, his late mother, who taught him the lives of saints, and all who walked with him.

“I ask for forgiveness for my weaknesses, my failures, my imperfections,” he said. “But I have experienced the mercy of God. When I was weak, then I was strong.”

He noted that his life is now “like a beautiful evening time.” He urged all to keep walking together in faith.

The celebration included the cutting of a jubilee cake, the presentation of gifts, and a grand lunch. The Golden Jubilee Mass concluded with a blessing and a group photo, marking a historic day for the Catholic Church in Myanmar.

By RVA Sgaw Karen Service