In a grueling three-day pastoral journey through the northern hills, Bishop John Mung Ngawn La Sam of Myitkyina Diocese brought the sacraments and a message of resilience to isolated Catholic communities suffering from both civil conflict and a devastating two-year rat infestation.

From February 7 to 9, Bishop John, accompanied by priests, visited the remote villages of Hka Hku Mung, Sumpra Bum, Durip, and Hka Karan Yang. The centerpiece of the visit occurred on February 8 at St. Patrick’s Church, where the bishop celebrated Sunday Mass and officially opened the newly constructed Good Shepherd’s multi-purpose hall.

During the Mass, more than 100 faithful received the Sacrament of Confirmation, strengthening them in their faith amid profound hardship. After the liturgy, a short program was held to thank the donors who contributed to building the new hall.

In his homily, Bishop John first praised the community’s strong faith and their generous contribution to the construction project. But he then turned directly to the suffering they endure.

He encouraged the people not to lose hope in their difficult situation but to actively seek blessings within their trials. He urged them to remain truthful, honest, and humble, even when circumstances make those virtues difficult to maintain.

The parishes served during this visit encompass 22 villages, with 304 Catholic families and a total of 1,740 parishioners. These communities have endured a double burden: displacement and danger from civil war, and a catastrophic rat infestation that has destroyed their cultivations and farms for two consecutive years.

The bishop’s presence in such a remote and afflicted area represents a significant act of pastoral solidarity, bringing not only the grace of the sacraments but also visible evidence that the Church has not forgotten its most isolated and suffering members. For a people struggling to survive both man-made and natural disaster, the message that faith can find blessing even in such conditions offered a rare moment of hope.

By RVA Kachin Jinghpaw Service