austraLasia #3142
YANGON: 12th October 2012 -- Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon presided at the Mass and opening ceremony of the Year of Faith at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon on 11 October 2012. Priests and faithful representing all 39 parishes, and religious in the Archdiocese of Yangon, joined the celebrations. The flag with the logo of Year of Faith was hoisted and a big candle marking the Year of Faith was lit by the Archbishop. Over 1000 people participated in the Mass and ceremony.
In his homily, the Archbishop recalled the 50th anniversary of the Vatican Ecumenical Council II. “Vatican II is the most remarkable and important council in the 20th and 21st centuries and in the life of the Church till now” he said. Recalling the words of Holy Father Pope Blessed John XXIII “Mother Church is happy and exults with joy...because God the Father has looked upon us; we have been anointed by God the Spirit and sent forth by God the Son”, he encouraged the priests, religious and faithful to work more for dialogue, openness, reconciliation and unity. “The core message of Vatican II is ‘Change of attitude’”, he said. “Many who know about it have not yet implemented it fully; many have not studied it yet; many pretend not to know about it; because the challenges the council set before us are rather uncomfortable for structures and persons” he also added.
The Archbishop explained the road map of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI for the Year of Faith: to study in details the Apostles’ Creed and the Catechism of the Catholic Church; to intensify the witness of charity; to study the history of one’s own faith and in particular to see how holiness and sin co-exist.” He encouraged the people “Study your faith; share your faith; witness your faith.”
Finally he encouraged the priests and religious “to pay attention to people; why they say things rather than what they say.” In the Year of Faith, parish priests are encouraged to give priority to teaching catechism to the faithful in parishes.
The Archdiocese of Yangon has 81,900 Catholics in 39 parishes. There are 98 priests, 310 religious and 14 lay catechists.
Year of Faith Opening Celebration in Yangon
“Study your faith; share your faith; witness you faith.”
“Study your faith; share your faith; witness you faith.”
In his homily, the Archbishop recalled the 50th anniversary of the Vatican Ecumenical Council II. “Vatican II is the most remarkable and important council in the 20th and 21st centuries and in the life of the Church till now” he said. Recalling the words of Holy Father Pope Blessed John XXIII “Mother Church is happy and exults with joy...because God the Father has looked upon us; we have been anointed by God the Spirit and sent forth by God the Son”, he encouraged the priests, religious and faithful to work more for dialogue, openness, reconciliation and unity. “The core message of Vatican II is ‘Change of attitude’”, he said. “Many who know about it have not yet implemented it fully; many have not studied it yet; many pretend not to know about it; because the challenges the council set before us are rather uncomfortable for structures and persons” he also added.
The Archbishop explained the road map of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI for the Year of Faith: to study in details the Apostles’ Creed and the Catechism of the Catholic Church; to intensify the witness of charity; to study the history of one’s own faith and in particular to see how holiness and sin co-exist.” He encouraged the people “Study your faith; share your faith; witness your faith.”
Finally he encouraged the priests and religious “to pay attention to people; why they say things rather than what they say.” In the Year of Faith, parish priests are encouraged to give priority to teaching catechism to the faithful in parishes.
The Archdiocese of Yangon has 81,900 Catholics in 39 parishes. There are 98 priests, 310 religious and 14 lay catechists.
