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Editor's Note: Myanmar is one of the chosen Outreach Mission areas of the Singapore Canossian Sisters.  The other is China.

My task was to visit Myanmar as a Provincial Councillor of the Canossian Daughters of Charity, to get in touch with the real situation in order to make sensible recommendations on our

Since 1996, we have made some twenty trips to Myanmar, involving at least twelve Sisters and several lay collaborators.  We have certainly made an impact on the Archdiocese in Taunggyi by our frequent presence and generous efforts to provide formative sessions to our aspirants, the Seminarians and candidates/Novices and Juniors of the other congregations and the Zetamens (a group of Little Evangelizers formed by the Bishop some 18 years ago to go into the villages, and today can boast of 8 professed Zetamen sisters).

My fortnight in Taunggyi has been a most enriching experience.  I enjoyed working with our own aspirants, the Seminarians, Zetamens, Juniors from the Sisters of Charity and aspirants from the Reparation Sisters.  Myanmar is at the point of "transition" as society and as Church.  The people are full of hope for a new "order".  There is great scope for "mission" but it is important to listen deeply to the insights and aspirations of the people so that we may be attentive to the gentle work of the Spirit in the Asian cultures.

Our nine aspirants are open, eager and promising.  They have expressed their desire to completely their English courses, University classes, Professional training and Village Mission experiences to prepare themselves well for the apostolate in the future.  They also appreciate the solid basic Christian formation and sisterly accompaniment we are giving them.  One of them will be doing a Nursing Aide Course in Yangon from June-November 2002.

Their desire is for our continued presence and a systematic and integrated programme for formation.  They are desirous of practical formation to get into the villages to share life and faith.  Our challenge of the future is to be able to identify Sisters who feel the call to embrace this Mission whole-heartedly.  As Province, we will have to make clear decisions, to prepare and mandate the Sisters called for Mission Ad Gentes to Myanmar.

Sr. Christina Yeo, FdCC
 15 Feb 2002
 Sr Janet writes on Myanmar…

Sr Angela and I were in Taunggyi, Myanmar from 9 to 14 May. We were very happy to visit Sr Veronica Syn and Sr Elizabeth Sim who had been sent there for the formation of our nine aspirants.

We had the chance to share their community life and had time for prayer, formation, meals and relaxation together. We invited Archbishop Matthias for dinner to celebrate his feastday. The aspirants put on tribal costumes and presented a programme of cultural dance and songs.

Five of the Aspirants were sent by Archbishop Matthias Shwe to Mobye to help and give a short refresher course to the new Zetamans [young evangelizers]. Assumpta, Antonia, Evelyn and Julia will be sent by the Archbishop for three months of village experience together with the Zetamans, to serve the poor people. Sr Elizabeth and Sr Veronica have been preparing them for this period of service and the girls were very excited to be sent out in twos, like the disciples to spread God's love. Mary Chit instead will be going to Yangon to do a six month basic nursing aid training course.

We hope and pray that more Sisters will respond to God's call to help in the formation of the youth in Myanmar.

By: Sr Janet Wang 

St Magdalene Inspires…

Our Canossian Aspirants from Myanmar write about their understanding of St Magdalene of Canossa…

Our Myanmar Mission
I have learnt ~

  • To "make Jesus known and loved" ~ Assumpta Peter [4]

  • To love and help the poor and each other in community ~ Mary Chit [4]

  • That Magdalene did not think of herself even when she was sick. She continued to do God's will… I cannot understand God's plan. I need to be open to Him and be ready to do His work like St Magdalene ~ Antonia [4]

  • That she was generous, not only with food but also with the talents that God had given her… I have learnt I have to use humility and generosity in my daily life ~ Julia [2½]

  • To let go of my desires and be faithful to God ~ Alexia Brigid [1½]

  • Looking at her life I am encouraged, I have hope for my future… I have the strength to leave worldly happiness and to follow Jesus closely ~ Evelyn Ko [2½]

  • That Magdalene could do what she wanted but her great desire was only to help the poor… I have learnt to be generous ~ Cherry [1½]

  • To be ready to serve the poor as Magdalene did ~ Nan Shar [½]

  • Magdalene loved God above all other things… I will try to follow her good example ~ Erica [½]

NB: The numbers in the brackets reflects the amount of time in years that the aspirant has been with the Canossian Sisters.

 
 Our Mobye Experience…

On the morning of May15, five of us left Taunggyi for Mobye. In the evening, together with forty other Zetamans we participated in the Refresher Course for Zetamans, which was inaugurated by Archbishop Matthias.

The next morning we began by dividing the Zetamans into groups for Gospel sharing. It was a new experience for some and it took some time before they relaxed and were happy with it. Subsequently, we also shared with them the History of the Church in Myanmar, Different Christian Denominations, Catechism and Methology. English lessons were also conducted in two groups, beginners and advanced. Besides teaching grammar, conversational English, pronunciation and action songs were taught to the beginners and vocabulary building for the advance students.

On May 28, the last day of our course we had dinner with the Archbishop, some priests and the Zetamans. The Bishop then announced our new mission postings. 

We arrived back in Taunggyi on the 30 May feeling that our experience was an enriching and positive one. We were grateful to God for giving us this learning opportunity and would also like to thank the Canossian sisters for their guidance.

By: Assumpta, Mary Chit, Antonia, Evelyn and Julia. 

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