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“Now you are sent to renew the faith of others”: Cardinal Bo encourages Myanmar’s catechists amid war
In a country where 4.9 million children need humanitarian assistance, the archbishop of Yangon called on 79 catechists to become messengers of hope and reconciliation. Some have spent more than half a century passing on the faith in communities affected by violence and displacement.
CHURCH IN MYANMAR
Ana Paula Morales (Poli)
10/30/20265 min read
Catechists listen attentively and prayerfully to Cardinal Charles Bo. Photo: RVA Sgaw Karen.
MYANMAR — In a country where war has forced millions of people from their homes and disrupted the education of countless children, Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon, has asked catechists to teach younger generations to reject hatred, discrimination, and violence, and to build relationships grounded in forgiveness, compassion, and reconciliation. His message was addressed to 79 catechists who attended a spiritual renewal gathering held from October 13 to 20, 2026. The cardinal reminded them that the Church’s mission is not simply to pass on religious knowledge, but to help people encounter Christ and recognize the dignity of every human being.
“You came here to renew your strength. Now you are sent to renew the faith of others,” the cardinal said, according to an account published by Radio Veritas Asia. The gathering concluded on October 20 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in the Archdiocese of Yangon, Myanmar’s most populous city. In his remarks, Bo expressed gratitude for the faithfulness of those who continue serving Catholic communities despite the financial hardships, displacement, and insecurity affecting many parts of the country.
Myanmar: A war that also threatens children’s future
Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a Southeast Asian country bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, and Thailand. Its recent history has been marked by decades of conflict between the military and various ethnic organizations, a crisis that deepened on February 1, 2021, when the armed forces seized power and overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The crackdown on protests following the coup triggered armed resistance that eventually spread the war across large parts of the country. As Reuters has documented, the confrontation has caused mass displacement and a profound political and humanitarian crisis.
The consequences are especially severe for children. According to UNICEF’s humanitarian situation report for the first half of 2026, 16.2 million people in Myanmar need humanitarian assistance, including 4.9 million children. The U.N. agency also reported that nearly 3.8 million people were internally displaced by the middle of the year. Fighting, damaged infrastructure, economic hardship, and restrictions on access to communities have increased families’ vulnerability, while many children face interruptions to their schooling and difficulty accessing essential services.
Against this backdrop, catechists’ work takes on a significance that extends beyond religious education. For many communities, particularly those in rural or conflict-affected areas, these men and women provide a steady presence of the Church. They accompany families, prepare children to receive the sacraments, teach the faith, and sustain community life when distance, insecurity, or a lack of resources makes regular visits by priests difficult.
“You will see greater things”: An invitation to keep hope alive
The spiritual renewal gathering in Yangon brought together 79 catechists for eight days of prayer, reflection, and formation. At its conclusion, Cardinal Bo centered his message on the Gospel of John, particularly Jesus’ words to Nathanael: “You will see greater things than this” (Jn 1:50). For the archbishop, that promise is an invitation to persevere even when circumstances seem to exceed human strength.
The cardinal explained that the end of a spiritual retreat does not mark the end of a journey, but a fresh start to the mission with renewed faith. He therefore invited participants to return to their parishes, villages, chapels, and communities with renewed courage and hope. “You came here to renew your strength. Now you are sent to renew the faith of others,” he reminded them, according to Radio Veritas Asia.
Bo stressed that a catechist’s vocation cannot be limited to explaining doctrine or teaching prayers. Their mission, he said, is to help children, young people, and families come to know Jesus Christ personally through instruction and, above all, through the witness of a life consistent with the Gospel. Patience, kindness, forgiveness, and love expressed in concrete deeds can show younger generations that every person has a dignity that must be respected.
The archbishop also acknowledged that many catechists carry out their work without public recognition or immediate results. He compared their service to sowing seeds: those who proclaim the Gospel may not personally witness all the fruits of their labor, but they are called to trust that God will bring growth to the seeds faithfully planted.
Teaching children to reject hatred and violence
One of the cardinal’s central messages concerned the responsibility to educate younger generations in a society scarred by war. Bo asked catechists to become messengers of peace and hope by teaching children to reject hatred, discrimination, and violence, and to cultivate forgiveness, compassion, and reconciliation.
That appeal carries particular weight in a country where violence has profoundly disrupted family life. According to UNICEF, forced displacement, insecurity, and interruptions to basic services are placing the well-being and future of a generation of children at risk. Education, child protection, and emotional support are among the most urgent needs.
Faced with that reality, the cardinal invited catechists to deepen their friendship with Christ through prayer and the reading of Scripture, to love every child entrusted to their care, and to work together with priests, religious, parents, and others responsible for Christian formation. He also reminded them of the importance of caring for their own spiritual, physical, and emotional health, particularly when facing financial difficulties, long journeys, or insecurity.
More than 66 years teaching the faith
The Archdiocese of Yangon has 101 catechists, according to figures reported by Radio Veritas Asia. Of these, 55 work full time, 29 part time, and 17 are elderly. Five have dedicated more than 50 years to this service, while another three have spent more than 25 years in catechetical work.
Among the testimonies highlighted was that of David U Htun Nho, who has served as a catechist for more than 66 years. His experience represents a lifetime devoted to passing on the faith to successive generations, often through quiet work that rarely makes international headlines.
Cardinal Bo expressed his gratitude to him and to the other catechists who have remained faithful to their vocation for decades. For the archbishop, these lives of service show that the Church’s mission depends not on social recognition, but on love for Christ and perseverance in accompanying others.
At the close of the gathering, the cardinal blessed the participants and encouraged them to return to their communities remembering Jesus’ promise to Nathanael: “You will see greater things than this.”
In a country where millions of families continue to face the consequences of war, the archbishop of Yangon’s appeal sets out a concrete task for those who teach the faith: to help children and young people grow up without seeing hatred and violence as their inevitable fate, and to recognize in forgiveness, solidarity, and reconciliation a possible path toward peace.
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