In the quiet, steam-filled kitchen of the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, the most profound lessons often came not from a textbook, but from a gentle word or a warm meal prepared by hands that cared like a mother’s.

For a quarter of a century, Daw Esther Ju Phaw has been the heart of this home. At 56, she has just marked 25 years of service—a Silver Jubilee not of preaching or teaching, but of feeding, nurturing, and quietly guiding generations of young seminarians in Kengtung, Myanmar.

Her journey began in 2001. A native of Taungngu Diocese, she arrived at the seminary not looking for a job, but answering what she would later understand as a calling. To her, the kitchen was never just a workplace. Each young man who passed through was treated as her own son. She fed their bodies, yes, but she also disciplined with kindness, offered counsel during doubts, and prayed fervently for their perseverance.

“She overcame difficulties by opening her heart to the Lord and relying on Him completely,” said Msgr. Stephen Ah Chu, during a moving Jubilee Mass held in her honor on January 29 at the seminary’s Marian Grotto. “Hers is a life of service walked in step with God.”

Msgr. Stephen captured the essence of her contribution, noting that “the ministry of preaching Mass before a crowd and the ministry of serving unseen in the kitchen are equally vital to the mission. Both are offered for the glory of God.”

Her legacy is measured in lives transformed. Over 25 years, she has served alongside 10 rectors and cared for countless young men. Among them, 15 have gone on to be ordained as priests, now serving in mission fields—each carrying with them a part of the steadfast love and stability she provided.

The Jubilee celebration was a full-circle moment of gratitude. Twenty-five priests, many of whom were once boys in her dining hall, gathered to honor her. In a poignant gesture, they presented her with a gold ring—a tangible symbol of their profound appreciation for the intangible gifts of home and heart she gave them.

“She accepted this work as a calling from God,” Msgr. Stephen had said. That calling was celebrated not with fanfare but with the deep respect reserved for those whose vocation builds the foundation upon which others stand.

In her own words of thanks, Daw Esther expressed heartfelt gratitude to the bishops, sisters, and especially the current rector, Fr. Alphonso Tu Jar, who helped organize the celebration. Her demeanor reflected her life’s work: humble, gracious, and centered on others.

Daw Esther’s story is a powerful reminder that vocation wears many forms. Sometimes, it wears an apron. For 25 years, in the simmer of pots and the breaking of bread, she lived a ministry of motherly love, proving that the quietest service can echo eternally in the lives of those called to serve.

By Sr. Maria Goretti Su Su Hlaing