The Sisters of St. Francis Xavier (SFX) Congregation celebrated its 128th Foundation Day with a solemn Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral Tuesday morning, on August 26, 2025, an event doubly joyous as it coincided with the 61st birthday of the congregation’s Superior General, Mother Ann Teresa.

His Excellency Bishop Henry Eikhlein of Pathein Diocese presided over the 6:00 AM Eucharistic celebration, which was concelebrated by priests and attended by religious brothers, sisters, catechists, boarding children, and the lay faithful.

The altar was inscribed with the congregation’s guiding principle: “To do for Christ and to die for Christ.”

In a heartfelt address, Mother Ann Teresa extended her gratitude. “I thank God with all my heart for blessing our congregation with 128 years of life and mission,” she said, paying tribute to founder Bishop Alexander Cardot, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition (SJA) for their initial support, and all who have served through the congregation.

In his homily, Bishop Henry honored the legacy of Bishop Cardot, a missionary from the Paris Foreign Missions Society (M.E.P.), who founded the congregation on August 26, 1897.

“Bishop Alexandre Cardot was one of the visionary leaders who looked to the future with faith and courage,” stated Bishop Henry. “Founding a congregation at that time was not easy, yet with God’s grace, he succeeded.”

He charged the current members with continuing this mission, stating, “Now it is the duty of Mother Ann Teresa and the daughters of St. Francis Xavier to continue with faithfulness to their charism and purpose until the very end.”

Established to address a lack of schools and linguistic barriers faced by foreign missionaries, the SFX congregation is the first local religious order in the Pathein Diocese. Its charism is “being poor in spirit and serving the most needy,” with a motto of “One with the Church.”

Today, the congregation has grown to approximately 452 members, including 60 juniors.

Their work in education, healthcare, catechism, and care for the elderly and disabled, and evangelization—including media apostolate through Radio Veritas Asia, extends across 13 of Myanmar’s 17 dioceses and to communities in the USA, Italy, the Philippines, and Thailand.

The foundation day festivities continued with a commemorative program featuring competitions on the congregation’s history and mission, songs, and games. Prizes were awarded to participants, with priests and religious serving as judges for the events.

By RVA Pwo Karen Service