Orphanage Celebrates 25 Years of Educating Myanmar’s Most Vulnerable Children
Saint Francis Xavier Orphanage at PaLaNa in Myitkyina celebrated a significant milestone on Monday, marking 25 years of providing education and shelter to orphans and poor children from across northern Myanmar with a solemn Silver Jubilee Mass.
The celebration on December 8 brought together Bishop John Mung Ngawn La Sam of Myitkyina Diocese, Bishop Emeritus Francis Daw Tang, 22 priests, religious sisters, and many faithful to honor the institution’s enduring mission. The orphanage school, founded in 1997 under the guidance of the late Archbishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng, has since become a vital haven for vulnerable youth.
“From the beginning to now, 1,037 students have been taught at the orphanage school,” organizers shared, highlighting a legacy of transformative care. The school was formally established between 2000 and 2003 by Father John Galang La Raw to serve children from the dioceses of Myitkyina, Banmaw, and Lashio.
In 2003, the St. Francis Xavier Sisters’ Congregation, led by Sister Jacinta Jangma Hka Ra, took over administration. The home has since sustained itself through local and foreign donors, supporting between 110 to 150 students annually.
Today, the institution houses 115 students and is run by four sisters with the help of ten volunteer teachers. Many alumni have gone on to become priests, sisters, catechists, and professionals working with NGOs and UN agencies.
During the jubilee Mass, certificates of appreciation were presented to bishops, priests, sisters, teachers, and donors. Sister Rose Angeline Maran Nang Doi, the current superior, delivered a welcome address and thanksgiving, while Father Paul Zinghtung Htoi Naw, the school’s first priest, gave an encouraging speech.
The event closed with the blessing of a jubilee cake and a shared meal, celebrating a quarter-century of quiet, dedicated service to those who need it most. From the coming year, Father Paul Khui Shin Aung will serve as the special spiritual guide for the orphanage, ensuring its mission of hope and education continues.
By RVA Kachin Jinghpaw Service
