The establishment of the Diocese of Mindat and the Episcopal Ordination of Msgr. Augustine Thang Zawm Hung took place on April 27, 2025 (Divine Mercy Sunday) at 9:00 am in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Yangon, Myanmar.

Pope Francis had officially announced on January 25, 2025, that the Mindat Diocese is to be established and detached from the Hakha Diocese. And he had chosen the local priest Fr. Augustine Thang Zawm Hung to be the Bishop of this newly established Diocese.

Mindat Diocese has become the 17^th Diocese of Myanmar.

The newly established diocese has over 13000 Catholics.

The newly ordained His Excellency bishop Augustine Thang Zawm Hung is the first Bishop of the Newly Established Diocese of Mindat. He belongs to the sub-tribe named “Müng” of the Mindat Chin Ethnic Group.

His Motto is,” Tend My Sheep” (John 21:16).

Although His Eminence Charles Bo was to be the principal Consecrator, he had to travel to Rome to take part in the Papal Funeral and the Election of the Pope.

His Grace Archbishop Marco Tin Win of the Archdiocese of Mandalay had to be the principal consecrator. Most Rev. Lucius Hre Kung (Bishop of Hakha Diocese and Most Rev. Felix Lian Khen Thang (Bishop of Kalay Diocese) were the Co-Consecrators.

Since the Ordination was on Divine Mercy Sunday, Archbishop Marko Tin Win said that the Message for us is that God loves us – all of us. He wants us to recognize that His Mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His Mercy, and let it flow through us to others. In this way, all will come to share His joys, said Archbishop Markus.

Archbishop also spoke about different sorts of difficulties the people encounter in Chin State and in Mandalay Archdiocese, and why the Episcopal Ordination was to take place in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Yangon.

“In the midst of different hardships, we cannot raise our heads and just look down to earth, but we are invited to raise our heads upwards to the Lord,” said Archbishop Marco Tin Win.

We have to remember the word of our Lord, which is, “the one who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him,” the archbishop added.

In his speech, Msgr. Andrea Ferrante said that the Newly Ordained Bishop Augustine is called to a great mission and responsibility to bring Christ’s peace to the flock entrusted to him. Amid insecurity, constant armed conflicts, the poverty of the population, the dramatic situation of families and young people which cause fear, we are to remember the words of Pope Francis that, “war particularly affects the most fragile people and leaves an indelible mark on families….the paths of peace are paths of solidarity, because no one is saved alone. Peace is possible.”

Msgr. Andrea continued to say that in this Jubilee year, we are not to be afraid to change and to undertake new pastoral methods, to listen to young people and to help them understand the meaning and beauty of life, especially in a difficult context like the one we live in today.

By Fr. Saw Hubert