ASIA/MYANMAR - A missionary community in times of war: the Church of Yangon in synod, with its eyes turned towards suffering humanity

Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - Building an authentically synodal community, which walks with Christ towards wounded humanity, and authentically missionary, capable of proclaiming the Gospel and bringing consolation in the difficulties and challenges of the present time, marked by a tragic civil conflict that is tearing the nation apart: it is in this spirit that the Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Yangon gathered yesterday, January 27, in the parish hall of St. Mary's Cathedral in Yangon to begin a week of study and discussion, in order to continue and apply to the local context the ideas that emerged from the Synod on synodality. Alongside Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, were the auxiliary bishops, more than 60 priests, 50 religious and 55 lay delegates who brought their experience and the point of view of the communities and parishes scattered throughout the diocese.
The participants discussed the need to be an “outgoing community” in a region where the entire population, and with it the Catholic community, is experiencing moments of discouragement, displacement, poverty and lack of basic necessities. The meeting, explained Father Hyginus Myint Soe, facilitator and moderator of the works, was held according to the “synodal method of conversation in the spirit”, which consists of listening together to the voice of the Holy Spirit, with a view to common discernment. This method, as experienced during the Synod in the Vatican, includes the phases of listening, reflection, prayer, discussion and decision-making. As Father Hyginus Myint Soe explains, “those present first shared their experiences, prayers and reflections. Then there was a silent prayer in which each participant shared his thoughts on what he had heard from the experiences of others.”
The intention of the ecclesial assembly is to “renew the entire archdiocese, moving towards change and development, listening for six days to the Holy Spirit who invites us to synodal conversion.” For each theme, the priest indicated, “a discussion is planned, followed by a prayerful reflection before the Blessed Sacrament.”
The points that will be addressed, during a dense week of common life, are diverse: the spirit of a synodal and missionary Church; the administration of the Church; the mission in the digital environment; the formation of faith; and also: education, priestly and religious life, socio-pastoral development, the condition of the family; the presence and life of ecclesial movements, the safeguarding of creation. The method of “conversation in the spirit” will be applied to each of these areas.
One of the points that the Church of Yangon keeps in mind - while living in a “desert time”, immersed in a nation suffering from civil conflict - is that activity in churches is now reduced to a minimum and often limited to the celebration of the sacraments. The commitment of priests, religious and lay people is therefore to “get out of the comfort zone”, to go towards the needy, the burdened, those who, especially in rural areas, are victims of poverty or are prey to despair: where there is a lack of housing, work, food, daily subsistence, education for children and young people. The week of reflection and discernment will define the face of an outgoing community towards the poor and suffering humanity. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 28/1/2025)

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