MYANMAR |
MYANMAR |
Area: 704,822 sq.mi.
Population: 50,000,000 approx.
Languages: Myanmar
Religion: 80% Bhuddist; the rest Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Animism
State Religion: Bhuddism
Major Racial Groups: Bamar(69%) Kachin, Chin, Shan, Mon, Kaya, Rhchine, Kayin
Climate: Tropical climate, with three distinct seasons.
Clothing:
Women:
light blouse and simple loungee (wrap of material)
Men: light shirt and simple basu (wrap of material). A light sweater for the
cool
season, and for travelling in the mountainous areas.
Catholic Church: 12 Dioceses for a Catholic population of 502,164. There are 16 Bishops and 19 Religious Orders in Myanmar.
We came to Myanmar in 1887 and opened a school - St. Anne's Convent Sittwe (Akyab). During the World War 1939-45 the schools were destroyed and closed. Myanmar achieved Independence in 1948 and in 1964 all foreigners were sent away.
We have 11 RNDM communities in the following 9 regions of
the country:
Sittwe - Rakhine State;
Shwepantaw - Magwe Division
Thandwei - Rakhine State
Pyay (3 houses) - Pago Division
Paletwa - Southern Chin State
Bo Taung - Taninthayi Division
Mindon - Magwe Division
Yangon - Yangon Division
Oatshippin - Pago Division
There are 45 Perpetually Professed Sisters, 11 Temporary Professed, 3 1st year Novices, 3 2nd year Novices, 4 Postulants and 6 Aspirants in the RNDM communities of Myanmar.
Pastoral ministries
Care of children
Working with youth and women
Catechetics
Preparation of the Sacraments Courses
Seminars
Prayer Meetings
Health Care
Hygienic living
Home visits
Care of poor children (educational, health,
food, lodging)
Care of the displaced children Involvement at the center for
Religious of Myanmar - administration,
organization, animation
The rndm sisters were invited to go to this mission by the Bishop of the Diocese. Bo Taung is an island at the very bottom of the peninsula, on the border of Thailand. This island is a very long island but the width is only 6 miles.
We care for displaced children in this mission. The children are displaced as a result of rebel or onsurgent wars with the army. The villages of these children were destroyed and the people relocated. The parents have either been killed or just cannot support these children so they live with the sisters. This mission exists on donations and any spare supplies the Bishop can send from the mainland. We have three sisters, Jucie, Joanna and Helen, and two associates - Rita and Annie. There are 153 boys and girls.
Jucie preparing food for the 153!
Jucie and Joanna in the sisters room used for sleeping and storing
The conditions are very basic with the sisters living in one room. The market is the vegetable garden and padi market on the hillside, two miles walk. The children and the sisters go and carry back supplies.
Carrying the white pumpkin from the hillside market
Searching for dinner!
Fishing is a favorite pastime of the children and adds to the supper table!
Wherever they are – and especially in the refugee centre at Bo Taung, all our 11 communities care for orphaned and disadvantaged children.
or
email rndmfundraiser@worldonline.fr
Simple equipment can make an immense difference in daily life in Naung Na Pin, Pago, Paletwa, Sittwe and Thandwei.
Most of our Sisters in Myanmar live in twos and threes, and work amongst the people in small villages where they must support themselves and offer pastoralcare to the people of their village and district.
A reliable water supply and rotary hoes will allow for the land to be better ploughed and raked to become more fruitful so that the Sisters can sell as well as eat.
A reliable source of power would help to overcome the poor eyesight conditions for the Sisters and for the children in their care who need to study each evening.
The RNDM Solidarity goal is:
One tube well .. ............................US$600
Three rotary hoes ..........................US$1800
Six solar units ................................US$7200
ASSOCIATES AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
For more info contact:
Provincial House
No 1383 Bo Nya Na Road
8 1/2 Mile
Mayangon
YANGON
Myanmar
Maybe you helped this remote mission in Myanmar to care for
refugee children.
VOCATIONS
Presently, there are 27 young women in the
formation process. They opened their Novitiate in 1970 at Pyay.
For more info contact:
Novitiate
c/o St. Paul's Cathedral
Pyay 08151
Myanmar
Novices
