A small village church in Pathein Diocese marked a quarter-century of faith on Monday, celebrating its silver jubilee on the very feast day that gives the church its name: The Immaculate Conception of Mary.

The 25th-anniversary Mass for the Immaculate Conception Church in Saphyu Su Village, Kyaiklat Parish, in Pathein Diocese was held on December 8, presided over by Bishop Henry Eikhlein of Pathein Diocese and joined by 24 concelebrating priests, religious, and a large gathering of the faithful.

In his homily, Bishop Henry paid tribute to the forebears who built the community. “Our ancestors were visionaries,” he said. “They made a difficult decision at a difficult time. They bravely did a difficult job at a difficult time.”

He reflected on the passage from 1 Corinthians, noting, “Today, our ancestors planted the seed. The fruit that comes from this is for the future.” He pointed to the many priests and religious from the area as evidence of God’s blessing and urged the community to “continue to prepare the new generation.”

Connecting the jubilee to the day’s Marian feast, he reminded the congregation that Mary’s sinless conception was central to Christian salvation. “Without the Mother Mary, the birth of Christ would not have been possible,” he said.

The history of the church, shared during the celebration, underscores its humble journey. The community first worshiped in a small, nipa palm-thatched structure in 1983. Between 1998 and 1999, the church was rebuilt in wood under the direction of Fr. Vincent Mahn Thu Hlaing.

The work was completed under Fr. Mathias Saw San Win. On December 8, 2000, the church was solemnly consecrated and opened by the then-Bishop Charles Bo of Pathein Diocese, —now His Eminence Cardinal Charles Bo—in a ceremony with 40 priests present.

The jubilee celebration served as a dual thanksgiving: for the Marian feast central to Catholic belief, and for the enduring legacy of a village church built through the determination and faith of earlier generations.

By RVA Pwo Karen Service