ASIA NEWS REPORT: A solemn Mass tomorrow will be held to celebrate Myanmar’s most important Christian place of worship, which has been recently restored. Card Martino will bring a message from Pope Benedict XVI. Renewing in Christ is “true” peace, Mgr Bo said.
Yangon (AsiaNews) – The celebrations for the centennial of Yangon’s recently renovated Saint Mary’s Cathedral is an opportunity for “reconciliation with God, reconciliation with others and reconciliation of each person with his or her conscience,” said Archbishop Charles Bo on the eve of the solemn Mass planned for tomorrow, the feast day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Speaking toAsiaNews, the prelate confirmed that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is Buddhist, will be present “from start to finish”. Myanmar’s foreign minister is also set to attend, government sources said. The Vatican sent an envoy, Card Renato Raffaele Martino, who will preside over the ceremony and will read a message of Pope Benedict XVI.
“Aung San Suu Kyi will be present at the celebrations for the cathedral’s centennial,” said Mgr Bo, “from start to finish”. The prelate, who has led the diocese since 2003, explained that he has known the Burmese opposition leader for many years and has met her on several occasions.
“It is more than a formal relationship,” the 63-year-old prelate said, and for this reason, “she decided to join us to show solidarity to the people and that she encourages all religions, nationalities and ethnic groups.”
Tomorrow’s events are open to representatives of all religions in the predominantly Buddhist nation where Catholics represent 1 per cent of the population and Christians count for 4 per cent.
In the past three years, the cathedral, Mgr Bo explained, went through “major renovation”, especially in the past year. “To renew all things in Christ” is the motto of the Archdiocese of Yangon. For this reason, in the last year, “we had retreats and communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, special prayers to be prayed everyday and now the Novena. Thousands have joined and this is very encouraging. All done in an atmosphere of prayer and reflection,” the archbishop added. Tomorrow, “Thousands are here per the Novena, the Mass and prayers and procession. It is a beautiful experience.”
Speaking to AsiaNews, Mgr Bo stressed that reconciliation in Myanmar includes Burmese Catholics as well. “As we restore in Christ, the love that was lost, the trust that was corroded, and the relationship that was frozen, let us reconstruct our lives with bonds of genuine affection.”
Likewise, he calls on people to “pray for the Country, so that we shall live in New Jerusalem” in which, like the renovated cathedral, human freedom and dignity will shine. He hopes that people can prepare themselves through prayer and devotion to a new age of “true freedom”.
Yangon cathedral is Myanmar’s main Christian place of worship and one of the most important in all of Asia. Built in the Gothic style, it has undergone major renovation in the past three days. Time, the 1930 earthquake, bombs during World War 2 and cyclone Nargis in 2008 have made renovation an imperative. The work that was just completed entailed among things the replacement of 88 stained glass windows made by Thai artists. Some show the 12 apostles and life of Christ. A light was placed behind the statue of the Immaculate to make it visible at night. (DS)
Yangon (AsiaNews) – The celebrations for the centennial of Yangon’s recently renovated Saint Mary’s Cathedral is an opportunity for “reconciliation with God, reconciliation with others and reconciliation of each person with his or her conscience,” said Archbishop Charles Bo on the eve of the solemn Mass planned for tomorrow, the feast day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Speaking toAsiaNews, the prelate confirmed that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is Buddhist, will be present “from start to finish”. Myanmar’s foreign minister is also set to attend, government sources said. The Vatican sent an envoy, Card Renato Raffaele Martino, who will preside over the ceremony and will read a message of Pope Benedict XVI.“Aung San Suu Kyi will be present at the celebrations for the cathedral’s centennial,” said Mgr Bo, “from start to finish”. The prelate, who has led the diocese since 2003, explained that he has known the Burmese opposition leader for many years and has met her on several occasions.
“It is more than a formal relationship,” the 63-year-old prelate said, and for this reason, “she decided to join us to show solidarity to the people and that she encourages all religions, nationalities and ethnic groups.”
Tomorrow’s events are open to representatives of all religions in the predominantly Buddhist nation where Catholics represent 1 per cent of the population and Christians count for 4 per cent.
In the past three years, the cathedral, Mgr Bo explained, went through “major renovation”, especially in the past year. “To renew all things in Christ” is the motto of the Archdiocese of Yangon. For this reason, in the last year, “we had retreats and communal celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, special prayers to be prayed everyday and now the Novena. Thousands have joined and this is very encouraging. All done in an atmosphere of prayer and reflection,” the archbishop added. Tomorrow, “Thousands are here per the Novena, the Mass and prayers and procession. It is a beautiful experience.”
Speaking to AsiaNews, Mgr Bo stressed that reconciliation in Myanmar includes Burmese Catholics as well. “As we restore in Christ, the love that was lost, the trust that was corroded, and the relationship that was frozen, let us reconstruct our lives with bonds of genuine affection.”
Likewise, he calls on people to “pray for the Country, so that we shall live in New Jerusalem” in which, like the renovated cathedral, human freedom and dignity will shine. He hopes that people can prepare themselves through prayer and devotion to a new age of “true freedom”.
Yangon cathedral is Myanmar’s main Christian place of worship and one of the most important in all of Asia. Built in the Gothic style, it has undergone major renovation in the past three days. Time, the 1930 earthquake, bombs during World War 2 and cyclone Nargis in 2008 have made renovation an imperative. The work that was just completed entailed among things the replacement of 88 stained glass windows made by Thai artists. Some show the 12 apostles and life of Christ. A light was placed behind the statue of the Immaculate to make it visible at night. (DS)
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