【慈幼通訊社
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2014
年
11
月
24
日緬甸仰光訊】
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緬甸天主教會慶祝在這黃金國成立500周年。慶祝活動一連三天在仰光市中心的聖母主教座堂舉行，活動包括禮儀慶典、教理講座、朝拜敬禮、修和聖事及誦唸玫瑰經。
慶祝活動發起人慈幼會士仰光總教區貌波總主教，感謝天主一直陪伴著緬甸天主教會。
天主教徒在這個深受佛教影響的國家中，只是少數群體。緬甸估計約有75萬名天主教徒。國內其他基督宗派的信徒，也為數不多。
身在緬甸的孟買教區格拉西亞斯樞機，以教宗方濟各的代表身份主持禮儀。慶祝活動的高峰為感恩聖祭，於11月23日主日早上7時半，在 Thuwana 運動專區舉行，參禮者包括緬甸所有主教、500名司鐸、眾多修道人士及數以千計的天主教徒。
事實上，首名天主教傳教士，於1510至1511年間抵達緬甸。基於各種保安問題及政治上的考慮，慶祝活動未能於當地教會成立500周年的那一年舉行。
正因為本年舉行周年慶祝活動，每個教區都已進行歷史的再探索工作，尋找有關傳教士把信仰帶到本國的歷史資料。至於與傳教士及他們所帶來信仰偉大見證，那些相關事物的考古學及建築學研究工作，也正進行當中。
縱使天主教會在當地仍是少數群體，然而他們將繼續致力服務貧苦及低下階層人士，以及爭取社會公義，讓人們看到他們的臨在。
500 Years of Catholic Church
(ANS - Myanmar –Rangoon, 24 November 2014) – The Catholic Church in Burma has celebrated 500 years of their presence in their Golden Land. Eucharistic celebrations, catechetical talks, adoration, reconciliation services and rosaries were held in the last three days in the heart of Rangoon, the St. Mary’s Cathedral.
The Archbishop of Rangoon, Most Rev. Charles Bo, SDB, was the initiator of these celebrations to thank God for the long presence of the Catholic Church in Burma.
Catholics are a minority in the country that is mainly influenced by Buddhism. There are estimated about 750, 000 Catholics in Burma. A good number of other Christian denominations are actively present in the country too.
On behalf of Pope Francis, Oswald Cardinal Gracias of Mumbai was in Burma to lead the liturgical celebrations. The summit of all the celebrations, the Thanksgiving Eucharist, was celebrated at 7:30 AM on Sunday 23rd November at the Thuwana sporting precinct where all the bishops of Burma, 500 priests, many religious and thousands of Catholics participated.
In fact, the first Catholic missionaries arrived in what is now Myanmar in 1510-11. It was not possible to celebrate the jubilee exactly 500 years later because of various security problems and issues of political expediency.
This year, as they celebrate the anniversary, each diocese has worked on rediscovering the history of the missionaries who brought the faith to the country. An archaeological and architectural study has also been done on everything the missionaries and great witnesses of the faith brought with them.
The Catholic Church is still a minority yet Catholics make their presence felt by their service to the poor and the disadvantaged, and by standing up for justice in the society.