As civil conflict continues to displace communities across northern Myanmar, Bishop John Mung Ngawn La Sam of Myitkyina visited more than 600 internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Nam Hkam refugee camp, offering spiritual comfort and solidarity.
“Today the Lord Jesus says: Peace be with you. May God’s grace and blessings be upon you,” the bishop told the community during his pastoral visit.
“I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for welcoming me as a Pastor. The Lord loved me, had mercy on me, and chose me. I am here today to tell everyone how much God loves you. Let us not be discouraged, but let us pray even more in these difficult times,” he said, according to a report by Fides, the Vatican’s missionary news agency.
The Nam Hkam camp was established in 2017 after fighting between the Burmese military and ethnic armed groups—including the Kachin and Shan armies—forced villagers to flee their homes.
The camp now shelters 622 displaced persons, including Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Anglicans who share the same precarious conditions of prolonged displacement.
Bishop La Sam was joined by diocesan vicar general Fr. Peter, along with priests, religious, and lay volunteers.
During the visit, the delegation administered the sacraments, celebrated Holy Mass, listened to the stories of the displaced, and offered pastoral care and humanitarian aid.
The bishop also called on the faithful to pray for four deacons—Fr. Clement, Fr. Lucas, Fr. Patrick, and Fr. Thomas—who will be ordained to the priesthood on August 6 at Myitkyina Cathedral. He described the ordination as “a great gift for the war-torn Diocese of Myitkyina.”
Located in Kachin State, the Diocese of Myitkyina serves approximately 100,000 Catholics and plays a vital role in providing humanitarian relief, regardless of religious background.
Alongside the Diocese of Banmaw, which serves another 40,000 Catholics, it continues to assist thousands of displaced people through Church-run camps and parish-based outreach.
Despite the growing humanitarian crisis—now affecting an estimated 3.5 million internally displaced persons across Myanmar, according to UNHCR—the Catholic Church remains a consistent presence, providing both material aid and spiritual refuge to those most affected by the ongoing conflict.
