By Deborah Castellano Lubov
During Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address on World Mission Sunday, he appealed for a ceasefire in Myanmar, lamenting the armed clashes and aerial bombardments against civilians and infrastructure in the Southeast Asian country.
Expressing his closeness to all those suffering violence and hardship, the Holy Father stressed, “I renew my heartfelt appeal for an immediate and effective ceasefire,” adding: “May the instruments of war give way to those of peace through inclusive and constructive dialogue!”
Yet, despite the pain and suffering, the faithful of Myanmar celebrated World Mission Sunday, full of faith. Notably, 1,500 children of the Archdiocese of Yangon celebrated a day early, on Oct 18, with a vibrant gathering at St Mark Catholic Church in Yemon Village. World Mission Sunday took place yesterday, Oct 19, on the theme “Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples.”
According to details provided to Vatican News by Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, along with others offered by Radio Veritas Asia’s Myanmar Language Services’ section, the large-scale event united young faithful from 32 parishes and emphasized the concrete role of children and young people as missionaries of hope.
Pope Leo’s greetings and blessing
Cardinal Bo presided over the Eucharistic Celebration, which was concelebrated by Bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye, Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon, and Msgr Andrea Ferrante, the Papal Representative to Myanmar, along with some fifteen priests.
Msgr. Ferrante extended Pope Leo XIV’s greetings and blessings to those gathered. In a video message for the occasion of the annual Day, Pope Leo had urged every single Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday.
In his remarks, Cardinal Bo warmly welcomed the children, emphasizing their vital role as young missionaries of the Church, and recalled that the celebration coincided with the Feast of St Luke the Evangelist, a Greek physician and convert, became a faithful missionary of Christ.
The Cardinal of Myanmar stressed to them that every single Christian, whether priests, religious, catechists, or laity, is called to be a missionary.
Happiness is looking towards God
Moreover, the Cardinal of Myanmar drew attention to a prominent image of recently-canonized Saint Carlo Acutis next to the altar, whom Cardinal Bo held up as a model of closeness to the Lord, prayer, and holiness.
Cardinal Bo marveled how the Saint who passed away at age 15 from Leukemia epitomised love for Jesus and the Eucharist, despite his serious hardships.
He reiterated the Saint’s insistence that “happiness is looking towards God; sadness is looking towards yourself,” and how true fulfilment and peace come entirely from the Lord.
Finally, Cardinal Bo called on the young people to show missionary spirit by living out Christ’s love for humanity, especially by loving the poor and the marginalized.
RVA Myanmar Language Service contributed to this article – Vatican News
