Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon has called on Myanmar’s religious men and women to live their vocation with “gratitude, enthusiasm, and hope” amid the country’s ongoing civil war, urging them to remain beacons of faith and compassion in a time of fear and despair.
Speaking during the Jubilee of Consecrated Life on October 8 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon, the cardinal reminded more than 200 gathered religious from 20 congregations that the essence of consecrated life lies not in perfection but in “grateful hearts and hopeful spirits,” Fides News Agency reported.
Quoting St. John Paul II, he said that “every Jubilee requires three important attitudes: gratitude for the past, enthusiasm for the present, and hope for the future.”
“Gratitude is a sign of holiness: A grateful person is a holy person,” Cardinal Bo said. “We are grateful to God for life, for our vocation, and for the inspiration of our founders.”
He urged consecrated men and women to “live the present moment, which is always a gift,” even when the challenges of war and displacement make hope seem fragile. “Even in moments of discouragement, we are called to wait with trust, to pray with the Psalms, and to find hope in simplicity, humility, and gentleness,” he said.
The celebration, held under the theme “Gratitude, Enthusiasm, and Hope,” gathered representatives from across the Archdiocese of Yangon for prayers, thanksgiving, and renewed commitment to their mission.
The event highlighted the perseverance of Myanmar’s religious communities—many of whom continue to serve in areas where fighting has displaced thousands and disrupted basic services.
Dominican Father Philip Soreh, OP, described consecrated life as “a life of building bridges,” particularly in an age where technology and artificial intelligence threaten genuine human connection. He urged religious to safeguard “the irreplaceable value of human community.”
In Rakhine State’s Diocese of Pyay, about 50 nuns also marked the Jubilee with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter Tin Way at the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM) convent, joining the nationwide commemoration of consecrated life.
Monsignor Andrea Ferrante, Chargé d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Myanmar, presided over a Eucharistic celebration at Yangon’s School of the Sacred Heart and praised the country’s religious for their courage and compassion amid conflict.
“We live in difficult times and times of great suffering in the world. The greatest challenge is the loss of faith and trust in God,” Monsignor Ferrante said. “Since I have been in Myanmar, I have been able to experience your faith, your courage, your love for Christ and the Church, and your generous dedication in serving the poor, the sick, children, and young people in the name of Christ.”
He reminded the faithful that they are “not called to find the solution to all problems, but to be present in the world to bring peace and help our brothers and sisters live with dignity and humanity.”
After the Mass, Monsignor Ferrante conveyed greetings from Pope Leo XIV and expressed gratitude for the religious’ “commitment and apostolic zeal” in evangelization through schools, shelters, and social ministries — works that have become lifelines in regions where public services have collapsed.
Representatives from other Christian communities and Buddhist leaders also joined the celebration, a sign of solidarity across faiths in a nation divided by conflict.
The gathering concluded with two days of reflection and sharing, where religious renewed their mission to embody faith, hope, and charity — a living witness, as Cardinal Bo said, “that holiness is found in gratitude, joy, and trust, even in the darkest of times.”
