Myanmar has been experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 since Aug. 16 when the country’s first domestic transmission in a month was detected in Rakhine State’s capital, Sittwe. In recent weeks, Myanmar has reported around 1,000 new cases and more than 20 deaths per day. To ease the burden on government hospitals overloaded with COVID-19 patients, Myanmar plans to allow private hospitals and clinics to treat the virus.
Responding to COVID – 19 in the light of the exhortation of Pope Francis Fratelli Tutti – Fraternity and social friendship, Archdiocese of Yangon, under the guidance of Cardinal Bo and Auxiliary Bishop John, has different levels of giving assistance to the most affected areas through parishes and organizational activities since March 2020. The Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Yangon are asked by Cardinal and Auxiliary Bishop to encourage the parishioners under their care to show their love, care and support through financial and in kind support to all our brothers and sisters irrespective of their religious background. The priests and parishioners are praying for God’s healing and mercy through the recitation of the holy rosary, offering the Eucharistic celebrations and participating in adoration to the Blessed Sacrament through zoom and Facebook. The people offer their assistance by volunteering and providing from their resources by bringing the sick to the hospitals and helping others to be quarantined etc. Catholic Charity (Karuna Yangon Social Services), St. Vincent De Paul Society and the Diocesan Project Coordination Teams are providing mask, hand sanitizer, PPE equipment and other means and ways.
One part of the body suffers all parts of the body suffer (1 Cor 12: 26). We all are brothers and sisters in Christ (Fratelli Tutti).
Archdiocese of Yangon was assigned to St. Mary Magdalene Church, in 2017 and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, San Diego in 2018 for Missionary Cooperation Plan. It is assigned to Our Lady of Grace Church, El Cajon for Missionary Cooperation Plan 2021.
Information provided by Fr. Francis Than Htun, Archdiocese of Yangon.