By Fr. Mariano Soe Naing, SDB

Anisakan, Myanmar - Celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of was solemnized at Marian shrine of Anisakan, Myanmar. The newly made Cardinal Charles Bo presided the Mass, concelebrated by Bishop Francis Daw Tang and fifty priests. Almost 2000 youth were present for the celebration. They were representing all the various dioceses in Myanmar.

Don Bosco was born in Bechi, northern Italy, in 1815. A hundred and twenty-four years later he was born a new in Burma; his presence was brought to Myanmar by the arrival of the first missionary group in 1939 in Mandalay. It was only meaningful that we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Don Bosco in this Golden Land where Don Bosco himself wanted to dedicate his life as a missionary of the Oblates of Mary.

His Eminence Cardinal Charles Bo SDB presided the Solemn Eucharistic celebration, concelebrated by Bishop Francis Daw tang of Myitkyina, (18) salesians and (32) diocesan priests. Significant number of Religious of various congregations were also present. The 2000 youth were from the sixteen different dioceses and from the ten Salesian Presences in Myanmar.

In his pep talk during the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration, Cardinal Charles Bo exhorted the youth to have courage to go for genuine joy and fun in life, to change what needs to be changed, to struggle through life keeping St. John Bosco the Father and Friend of Youth as their model who himself experienced much struggle especially in his young days.

After the Mass Cardinal Charles Bo and Fr. Provincial Charles Thi Han Lwin blessed and cut the huge and colorful Birthday Cake for Don Bosco marking the 200th anniversary of his birth. Down the day there were lots of fun. The day was concluded by the exciting musical entertainment program by popular Catholic artists of Myanmar.