Two Jesuit deacons were ordained to the priesthood on Friday, December 12, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon Archdiocese, expanding the small but growing Jesuit presence in the country.

The ordination Mass, presided over by Bishop Raymond Wai Lin Htun, Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon Archdiocese, welcomed Rev. Joachim Anthony Tin Aung Lwin, SJ, and Rev. Nicholas Han Zaw Shing, SJ, into the priesthood. They were joined by numerous diocesan and religious priests and lay faithful.

In his homily, Bishop Wai Lin Htun emphasized the divine source of their calling, reminding them, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” He framed the priesthood as a lifelong vocation of humble service, warning against clericalism and urging the new priests to teach, sanctify, and foster unity.

“Ordination lasts only a short moment, but priesthood is a lifelong journey,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of both, Rev. Joachim Anthony Tin Aung Lwin expressed profound gratitude, first to his parents as “the first teachers of faith,” and then to Jesuit formators, Church leaders, and all who supported their decade-long formation.

The two priests bring diverse backgrounds to their ministry. Rev. Joachim Anthony, 34, was born in Yangon and entered the Jesuits in 2014. He completed theology studies at the Gregorian University in Rome. Rev. Nicholas, 33, hails from Tabyin Village in Magway Region. He joined the Jesuits in 2013 and studied theology in Manila. Both share a personal motto drawn from the Gospel of Luke: “I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

The Society of Jesus has approximately 14,000 members worldwide. In Myanmar, the ordination brings the number of Jesuit priests to 21, with several more seminarians still in formation.

Following the Mass, a grand lunch at the Archbishop’s House compound allowed the community to celebrate the new priests, whose ordination represents both a personal culmination and a sign of hope for the local Church.

By RVA Sgaw Karen Service