A Spiritual Garden Watering Kachin Lands

Lazing Theresa Bawk Nan
(Laiza parish, Banmaw diocese)  - “A Wounded Healer”

I am from Je Yang, Laiza. My father and mother are famers and I am the second of four siblings. I lived in a serene village with natural beauty and resources for our people, a village over 60 houses that was shattered by war between Kachin insurgents and the government of Myanmar. The war has been particularly cruel, it had displaced thousands. I have come from an Internally Displaced People’s camp, near the China Border. Many people have been killed  and wounded.  We lost our land, houses and cattle. My father was shot by the Burmese military and is now handicapped and cannot work well. After fleeing our village to different places my family was able to contact each other after some time. Now we are all united at Je Yang IDP camp, where in the boarding house supported by the Columban Fathers, I passed Grade Ten. Wishing to contribute to my community, I joined the catechetical school where I am gaining skills in teaching catechism, arranging liturgical celebrations and imparting the social teaching of the Church. I am happy the Church reopened a catechetical school for our people because I wanted to become a grassroots community faith leader. We will need to help the resettlement of the people, work for peace, healing of trauma and drug addiction

Joseph Nhkum Tang Gun
“Thirsting for Spiritual Waters”

Originally I come from Nam San Yang Parish. At present my family is living in the Je Yang IDP camp. We are nine in my family and I am the fifth son. I always wanted to serve my church. This dream was fulfilled last year. As soon as I heard about reopening of the St. Luke’s Catechetical school in Myitkyina, I was so excited. I know I am still weak in faith. I need to have formation for myself first. I can see that my family,  friends and  community need strong faith. We are living a risky life without  any guidance for the future. As a people we thirst for spiritual waters.

Columban WoHtong Hkawng Lum
In the Footsteps of the Columban Missionaries
I am named after the great Columban Missionaries who evangelized our land. I have four brothers and two sisters. I am the oldest son in my family. I have my own family too - two daughters, two sons and my wife. I am from Wai Maw Parish. When I was young I wanted to become a famous singer. Later on, I saw the reality of my people so my desire changed and I wanted to become a priest. But I knew slowly that was not my vocation. In 2003 I got inspiration to  attend the catechetical school, but I did not have any opportunity. I had to wait for God’s plan for me. I thank God. Now I am a Catechetical student at St. Luke’s. I cannot be a priest but I can serve God as a community faith leader. St. Luke’s is like a garden for the Kachin  people of Myitkyina, Banmaw and Lashio. I have improved a lot in this garden in my life and thinking. Day by day I  have become more mature and have gained skills to combat the social evil in my country…The flowers and fruit formed in St. Luke’s garden are going to decorate the world for the glory of God.