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 an image of the Good Shepherd carrying a sick lamb. “Love is not in the air. Love is a reality,” he said. He quoted St. John Bosco: “If you want others’ love, you must love first.”

Cardinal Bo’s Humble 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. His grace is much greater than my weaknesses. 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. “Believing in divine providence, let us keep on walking on our pilgrim way.”

A Life of Dedication

Cardinal Bo’s journey has been remarkable. He was the first Cardinal of Myanmar, appointed by Pope Francis in 2015. He has served as president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences and as a member of several Vatican dicasteries. Currently, he is serving as the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM). He is also the patron bishop of Myanmar RVA Language Services. He has been a bishop for 36 years and a cardinal for 12 years within his 50 years of priesthood.

Celebration and Gratitude

The jubilee included the cutting of a cake, the presentation of gifts, and a grand lunch. Msgr. Saw Francis, rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, thanked the Cardinal and Fr. Edward for their tireless service. He expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the celebration, including donors, volunteers, choirs, and media partners.

In a separate interview, Fr. Edward Sein Myint recalled his years as a broadcaster with Radio Veritas Asia in Manila from 1989 to 1994, where the Myanmar language service received about 1,000 letters monthly, mostly from Buddhists.

Fr. Edward 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.

The Golden Jubilee Mass concluded with a blessing and group photo, marking a historic day for the Catholic Church in Myanmar. As Cardinal Bo said, “The Lord has done great things for me.”

By RVA Sgaw Karen Service