The first SVD house in Myanmar has been officially blessed by Cardinal Charles Bo, in another significant milestone for the AUS Province’s newest missionary endeavour.

Named the Divine Word Centre, the house was blessed by the Cardinal following many months of hard work by confreres and local tradespeople to restore it to a habitable home. 

“In Burmese, the centre is named De than a san ein, that can mean ‘the abode of the Word’ or ‘the abode of Teaching (Dhama), that is very meaningful for our Buddhist neighbours,” says Fr Jacob Kavunkal SVD, who was the first missionary to begin work in the Myanmar mission.

The SVD Superior-General, Fr Paul Budi Kleden, was also present for the blessing, along with AUS Provincial Fr Henry Adler and Asia Pacific Coordinator, Fr Gabriel Koten.

“The Divine Word Centre is an institute for the Biblical apostolate that we have started at the invitation of the Cardinal to the Australian Province,” says Fr Jacob.

The celebration began with the Eucharist at the local parish church, presided over by Bishop John Saw Yaw Han, the Auxiliary Bishop of Yangon. After the Mass, the congregation moved to the Divine Word Centre for the Blessing.

In his thanksgiving address, Fr Henry thanked Cardinal Bo for his thoughtfulness in inviting the SVD to Myanmar to begin the Biblical apostolate.

In reflecting on the initial negotiations with Cardinal Bo, two-and-a-half years ago, he referred to the mystery of the Incarnation, where in the beginning was the Word, with the intention that the Word would become Flesh.

“This project too, started with words, but eventually became flesh,” he said.

Fr Henry also acknowledged the two confreres, Fr Truc Quoc Phan SVD and Fr John Le SVD who went to Yangon first to renovate the building, and he thanked the people of the local parish and the Parish Priest, Fr Noel, “who from the beginning made us feel welcome and offered help and care as Truc and John were trying to make connections and do the required renovation work”.

“This newly renovated building is not just a residence of the SVD Community but a place for people to come and reflect on the Word of God,” Fr Henry said.

The formalities were followed by a festive meal, served to all who were present, including the local parish community who had helped the SVD confreres get ready for the event.

The SVD presence in Myanmar began in August 2017 when Fr Truc and Fr John began work to make the structure that the Society had been given liveable.

Fr Jacob, the first of the four member team appointed by the SVD Generalate, arrived in March 2018 and started to work giving Bible retreats, classes, animation talks and teaching English. Later, two more of the team, Fr Mariusz Kubista SVD and Fr Tuyen Nguyen SVD moved in. It is hoped the fourth member, Fr Devasagayam Savariyappan SVD, will join the team in January.

Myanmar is a nation of 52 million people, overwhelmingly Buddhist, with about 700,000 Catholics, spread over 16 dioceses and looked after by more than 300 priests.

“Myanmar thus offers great opportunity for the SVD to serve with its different charisms,” says Fr Jacob.

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: SVD confreres in Myanmar welcome Archbishop of Yangon Cardinal Charles Bo, SVD Superior-General Fr Paul Budi Kleden for the blessing of the SVD house.

MIDDLE LEFT: Cardinal Bo blesses the chapel of the house.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Fr Jacob Kavunkal SVD welcomes the guests.