FMA presences in Myanmar celebrate Provincial Gratitude Day & Launching of 25 years of FMA Presence in Myanmar
On
this 24th of February, 2018, the FMA Sisters of Myanmar celebrated in
Nazareth Marian Shrine, Anisakan, their provincial gratitude day with the theme
“Thank you for your listening heart” to
express the gratitude and affection that unite them Sr. Jessica SalvaƱa, the
Provincial and among the members of the educating communities in an atmosphere
of prayer, simplicity and joy. The Sisters prepared for this feast with the
Eucharistic adoration once a week, praying “Mary most powerful virgin” after
the rosary and the nine days of intensive preparatory prayers to thank Sr.
Jessica for her listening attitude which comes from a simple and welcoming
heart, leading us to discern God’s loving will for each one of us.
The day began with
thanksgiving morning prayer followed by the Eucharistic Celebration. Then a
thanksgiving program was followed after which we took lunch together. There
were around 300 members of educating communities, Anisakan parishioners and
Servite Sisters who attended to this event to thank God for the gift of Sr.
Jessica in the CMY Province. Fr. Ashley Miranda, SDB celebrated the Eucharist
surrounded by other priests.
This
year celebration of the feast of gratitude day becomes more significant as our
Sisters launch the 25th anniversary of the presence of the FMA in
Myanmar. The theme chosen for this event is “25 Years of Living Don Bosco’s Dream in Myanmar”. Don Bosco, our
loving father was greatly attracted to the foreign missions in order to bring
the light of the Gospel to those young people who don’t know Jesus. In 1839,
the Oblates of Mary entered the Kingdoms of Ava and Pegu, that attracted the
attention of Don Bosco. But his desire to go as a missionary to Myanmar was
realized by his sons in 1939, when they landed at Yangon and took up the Lafon
Memorial School at Mandalay.
In 1958
Fr. Fortunato Giacomin opened a small school for girls, which was entrusted to
the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians when they arrived on the 14 November, 1961.
Against all odds, the Sisters were allowed to enter Myanmar. With great zeal
they started working and after three years they began to put up a big
three-storey school in ferroconcrete.
The
year 1960-65 were years of dark cloud over the religious congregations and the
Church of Myanmar. In 1962 the army headed by General Ne Win captured power and
with him the Socialist Regime. In 1965, the new government confiscated
everything that belonged to the Church, to the congregations and to the parish.
In 1966, our first missionary Sisters, Sr.
Maria Dal Corso, Sr. Agnese Azzopardi, Sr. Maria Thottungal and Sr. Teresa Andreotti
were expelled and our Auxilium School was confiscated by the government.
In
1989, Sr. Mary Khin Myint re-entered Myanmar and started living in the compound
of the Salesian priests in Anisakan. After that Sr. Thecla Chit May and Sr.
Filomena Ma Yee joined her in 1992. In 1994, the community of St. Mary Domenica
Mazzarello Anisakan was canonically erected.
Today,
as the Sisters thank Sr. Jessica for her sisterly love and accompaniment, they
launch the one year preparation for the 25 years of the Salesian
Sisters’ presence here in Myanmar. Their hearts are filled with gratitude to
God for His faithful presence and providence in these past years as they live
out the dream of our loving founder for the poor young people and children of
Myanmar: to make them happy in life and in eternity through integral education.
Let us rejoice with them and let us pray together, that they may continue to
spread the Gospel of Hope and Joy to everyone.