The Catholic community of Kangyi village in Pathein Diocese celebrated a profound legacy on Sunday, marking the 25th Silver Jubilee of St. Francis Xavier Church with a Mass that honored pioneering missionaries and called for renewed faith in a new generation.

The Jubilee Mass on December 7, the Second Sunday of Advent, was presided over by Bishop Henry Eikhlein of Pathein Diocese, joined by ten priests, religious sisters, brothers, and a large gathering of the faithful.

In his homily, Bishop Henry centered the celebration on gratitude and heritage. “Let us thank our ancestors and our parents who first brought the seed of faith to this land,” he said. He acknowledged that the church was not built in easy times, but stood as “a testimony to God’s plan… because our ancestors were good, honest, God-fearing, and religious.”

He paid special tribute to the early missionary, Fr. Martin Narbaitz, who traveled by ship to preach the Gospel and plant the faith with great sacrifice. The Bishop then turned to the present, noting the village’s improved accessibility and urging parents to be the first teachers of the faith to their children.

Connecting the jubilee to the Advent season, Bishop Henry reminded the congregation of John the Baptist’s message: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” He encouraged the faithful to invite God into their daily lives.

The history of the church, woven into the celebration, tells a story of deep roots. The faith first arrived with a Tamil cook, U Yahoo, after World War II. It grew through subsequent generations, with descendants entering religious life, including sisters in the Congregation of St. Francis Xavier and the Missionaries of St. John Paul II.

The church building itself was rebuilt by Saya Zuzel, a descendant of the early family, with funds donated by the Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was blessed by His Eminence Cardinal Charles Bo (then Bishop of Pathein) in January 2001.

As the celebration concluded, the message was clear: the silver jubilee was not just about a building, but about honoring a living faith passed down through sacrifice and nurtured for a quarter of a century in the heart of Kangyi village.

By RVA Pwo Karen Service