Myanmar Cardinal encouraged the new bishop of Pyay Diocese to build a bridge of peace in the place of divisions.

“You are anointed in this jubilee year as the Shepherd of Hope in this time of fear. You will bring healing to the place of pain. You will build the bridge of peace in the place of divisions,” insisted His Eminence Charles Cardinal Bo.

Cardinal Bo of Yangon Archdiocese said that amid challenges, oppression, conflicts, and hatred, God’s time was always hope. With this hope, we were celebrating this Episcopal ordination.

The Episcopal consecration and installation of Msgr. Peter Tin Wai of Pyay Diocese was held in St. Paul’s Minor Seminary, Pyay, on February 22.

The principal consecrator was His Eminence Charles Cardinal Bo.

Cardinal Bo urged the new bishop that Jesus Christ should be his model.

“Hebrews 5:1-10 reminds us that Jesus Christ, the High Priest, should be the model to the life of the bishop.”

“He was chosen among the people and not free from suffering. He was called to be kind, understand the depressed, to struggle with others. Facing the challenge, Bishop must witness the power of Christ. He needs to know that authentic healing comes from God. A road to peace is humility, suffering, and practicing by imitating the suffering Christ,” the cardinal continued.

Amidst the conflicts and divisions, Cardinal Bo stressed the bishop’s role as a bridge embodying Christ’s heart. Christ’s heart that comes out the last drop of blood on the cross should be a model for the bishop. Through suffering love, we can achieve authentic healing, reconciliation, and peace.

He stated the current situation of Pyay Diocese which is composed of some part of Bago Division and Rakhine State, “Your place in the ministry is now, full of conflicts and depressions. We know that your diocese is broken into pieces because of the war. Once the laughing sound of children and the song of humans moving are covered by the sound of guns and artillery, the cries of the wounded, the cries of the mothers who lost their children. You passed four years amid the oppression valley. The new dawn brings new fear and the night after the sun goes down covers unspeakable worries.”

The cardinal explained that once this land flourished trades became exhausted because of pangs of hunger and wars. Their hope, dignity, their attitude due to their houses being burned down are crushed. Once the road that can go friendly turned to be dangerous roads. Many pieces are scattered and the smell of sorrow is covered.

“Your children who should be in the classroom are running away, with fear of the bomb that might fall from the above, holding the shaking hands of their mothers. The youth lost their future and were trapped in fear. Their future was imprisoned in the inhumane because of the war,” he added.

The cardinal encouraged Bishop Peter that according to Today’s Gospel reading, the bishop was called to be the good shepherd who lit the light of hope. It cannot be denied that many big challenges welcome the bishop. But there is no need to doubt that there are God’s immense blessings for leaders with love. You are not walking alone. The prayers of the faithful will reach to the presence of God. God’s help will go in front of you and shine your path.

Cardinal Bo highlighted, “This land is trembling under the war but not a deserted land. The suffering is echoed in the atmosphere but it is full of the prayers of those who do not surrender the despair.”

Cardinal Bo asserted that the future of war-torn youth cannot be disappeared.

He told the new bishop, “You have to remind them that the dream of the youth is stronger than the destructive weapons.”

The cardinal urged the new bishop to revive hope and protect the faith of the faithful in the Pyay Diocese.

Msgr. Andrea Ferrante, Chargé d’ Affaires, encouraged Bishop Peter, “Now begin a new pilgrimage for you and a new goal to persevere in the task of evangelization. In this regard, I encourage you and the Catholic communities in Pyay to make every effort to give hope, especially to children and young people who are the future of the nation and the world and the Church.”

Msgr. Andrea added, “This is why it is important today to dialogue and collaborate with our Christian brothers and sisters and those of other religious denominations. In these difficult times marked by war, violence, and poverty, our human family, especially young people, and children who look to the future with uncertainty, need a witness of reconciliation, healing, unity, collaboration, and peace that can only come from the love of God.”

Bishop Peter Tin Wai’s Episcopal motto is “Emmanuel.”

Bishop Peter Tin Wai was born in Minbya Parish, Rakhine State, in the Diocese of Pyay on July 2, 1967.

His parent is Nicholas U Mg Lone, a catechist, and Anna Daw Hla.

Bishop Peter holds a Licentiate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome in 2007.

He served as a pastor in Kyaukpyu Parish, Rakhine State, from 2018 to 2024.

From 2009 to 2012, he served as the professor of Morals at the Institute of Theology, St. Joseph’s Catholic Major Seminary in Yangon, Myanmar.

From 2012 to 2015, the bishop-elect served as the rector of the St. Paul’s Minor Seminary in Pyay.

Pope Francis appointed Most. Rev. Msgr. Peter Tin Wai to be the bishop of Pyay Diocese in Myanmar on December 3, 2024. the Feast Day of St. Francis Xavier.