Silver Jubilee FMA Myanmar
Anisakan, Myanmar, 25 February 2018 -- 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 Salvaña, 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 concrete and steel.
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 (FMA provincial Myanmar - Cambodia) 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!
