Around 700 listeners, followers, priests, and religious gathered on May 11 at Chyat Pawng Chan village, Myitkyina, to celebrate RVA Day of Lisu Service, marking the impact of Catholic media in reaching tens of thousands through digital platforms.

The celebration began with a Thanksgiving Mass presided over by Msgr. Fr. Peter Hka Awng Tu, joined by 12 priests, religious brothers and sisters, and RVA Lisu followers from across the region.

Crossing Borders Through Media

In his homily, Fr. Peter Zang Yaw Hpung, a former coordinator of RVA Lisu, reflected on the missionary spirit of early Christians. Though persecuted and scattered, they continued to preach the Gospel everywhere, causing the faith to cross borders and spread worldwide.

“Jesus Himself crossed borders during His ministry,” Fr. Peter said. “He spoke not only to the Jewish people but also to the Samaritan woman and the Roman centurion. Today, through RVA, we can also cross borders without travelling physically.”

He highlighted the power of digital evangelization, noting that RVA Lisu now has about 50,000 followers. “To gather even one thousand people physically is difficult and costly, but through digital media, we can preach to thousands at once. We must take advantage of this opportunity for evangelization.”

Bishop Emeritus Francis Daw Tan encouraged the faithful to value both faith and culture. “Mission work in the Lisu language is very important and successful,” he said. “Do not forget your culture and traditions too. Keep them in the faith and keep the faith in them.”

Testimonies of Impact

After Mass, listeners shared how RVA Lisu has transformed their communities. Elizabeth Gwar Ma Nyi described using the RVA Lisu in missionary work near the China border. “There are many Lisu people there who are not Catholics. When we introduced RVA Lisu to them, they were surprised to know that there are Lisu Catholics in the Church.”

She added that her husband, a catechist, receives inspiration and ideas for his homilies through the programs. “We listen to RVA Lisu every day.”

Elizabeth Ning Ram, a catechist from Chyat Pawng Chan village, recalled difficulties in the past. When she was assigned to Putao after her studies, she did not learn of her father’s death until one month later. “Nowadays, RVA Lisu is very helpful. Through the programs, I learned about culture, dialogue, and the lives of saints.”

History and Challenges

Fr. Peter also shared the ministry’s history. RVA Lisu started radio broadcasting once a week in 2008. In 2018, it entered the digital world according to the needs of the times.

He acknowledged that negative comments on social media sometimes discourage staff, but noted, “Those who comment negatively often listen more than others. They are also valuable followers of RVA.”

The celebration concluded with fellowship, distribution of commemorative gifts including RVA Lisu T-shirts, keychains, and mugs, and a grand lunch shared among all participants. The event stood as a testament to the power of digital media in spreading the Gospel to remote and border communities.

By RVA Lisu Service