Help for Myanmar: World mission in the face of war and earthquakes!

Help for Myanmar: World mission in the face of war and earthquakes!

These days many people are thinking about the situation in Myanmar. The population's freedom of movement is severely restricted with barriers and military controls. The diocese of Dresden-Meißen and the Catholic relief organization mission Aachen call for support for the suffering church in Myanmar in October. Dr. Christian März, the missio diocesan director, emphasizes the challenging situation in which the church is operating in the conflict between the military regime and its own population.

The situation is worrying: people are fleeing Myanmar in droves while a severe earthquake shook the country in the spring. In the face of these challenges, it is bishops, religious and priests who give people hope. In October, several church representatives from Myanmar will travel to Germany to report on their experiences. Its goal is to show how the church in Africa, Asia and Oceania improves people's lives through pastoral care and social work.

Support for migrants and earthquake victims

The church in Myanmar is doing important work by organizing classes and training for young refugees. It is also transforming parishes into relief centers for earthquake victims and promoting peace and reconciliation. Around 200 events are planned in Germany in October for World Mission Month, which opened on September 28th in Essen and will conclude on October 26th with World Mission Sunday. On this day, celebrated in around 120 countries, church services collect donations for the poorest dioceses in the Global South.

This reports on the situation in Myanmar UN Human Rights Office that the military is hindering humanitarian aid and even harassing aid workers. A third of the population—17.6 million people—needs urgent humanitarian assistance. Food, shelter and medical facilities are being deliberately destroyed in order to break resistance. Over 60,000 homes have been razed in Myanmar in recent years, and at least 3,452 people have been killed by the military since the coup in February 2021 alone.

A sign of hope

The support of the international community is crucial. The Archdiocese of Freiburg also participates in the educational campaign and has developed its own programs to support the church in Myanmar. Pastor Philip Aung Nge will be in Freiburg from October 3rd to 7th, while sisters such as Sr. Felix Chaw Su Su Aung and Sr. Benadetta will share their experiences and reports from October 21st to 26th. Events such as a Eucharistic lecture evening or a report on the situation in Myanmar were organized to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by the people there.

World Mission Month provides an important platform to show solidarity with Myanmar and pray for those living in extreme conditions. Many hopeful faces express that there is a ray of hope despite the constant darkness. It is up to us to stand by these people.