Nearly a year after a powerful earthquake shattered their church, the small Catholic community of Yamethin gathered on February 14 at an outdoor grotto to celebrate the 27th annual Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes—a poignant display of faith rising from the rubble.

The celebration at the outdoor Grotto of the Blessed Mother drew pilgrims from across the Meiktila Zone, despite ongoing logistical challenges. Fr. Philip Tin Htun presided over the 8:00 AM Mass, with Fr. Saw Justin (SJ) delivering the homily to an assembly that surprised organizers with its size.

“I am heartened to see such a vibrant gathering today,” Fr. Saw Justin said. “While the Catholic population here may be small in number, your collective spirit in organizing this feast is a powerful witness to your faith.”

He urged the congregation to heed the message of Lourdes—to repent and pray for sinners—and to extend their prayers to those living in zones of insecurity and fear.

The original church building was rendered unusable after a major earthquake struck on March 28, 2025. Since then, all liturgical functions have been held outdoors.

“Holding this 27th anniversary under these circumstances is a testament to the Blessed Mother’s protection,” said Fr. John Kyaw Thu Ya, the parish priest. He noted that pilgrims had traveled despite difficulties, and generous benefactors had helped make the celebration possible.

Fr. John provided an update on the “Road to Reconstruction,” reporting that the parish is in active dialogue with donors and engineers to design a new, seismically resilient church. Efforts are also underway to secure necessary construction permits from local authorities. Spiritually, the community maintains a daily Rosary devotion, seeking divine guidance for the project.

“I encourage every family to anchor their lives in prayer,” he said. “Start every endeavor with the Rosary.”

The transition to outdoor worship has been challenging. Sr. John Mary (FSAG) described the longing for a proper sanctuary. “Worshipping outdoors means contending with the constant noise of traffic—cars, motorcycles, and trains,” she said. “It creates a distraction that we didn’t face within the sanctuary walls.”

The feast liturgy was enriched by a youth choir from Mandalay, whose hymns offered a backdrop of hope. For a community without a roof over its altar, the gathering stood as a powerful witness that faith—like the Blessed Mother’s protection—endures through earthquake, noise, and uncertainty.

By RVA Myanmar Service