Fr Neil Magill gives us an insight into the late Archbishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng of Myanmar. "He was a great shepherd who lived a simple and prayerful life and believed in the potential of everyone."
The late Archbishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng in 2009. Columban Fr Neil Magill lives and works in Myanmar.
In 1970, I was a theology student at our Columban seminary in Ireland and in the college we had a book store. I was one of the shop assistants and one afternoon Bishop John Howe (a Columban) came and asked me to send some theology books every three months to a Paul Grawng in Myitkyina, Myanmar. That was 50 years ago and that was the first time I heard the name of Fr Paul Grawng. Paul Grawng had been baptised by Columban Fr Bernard Way.
I had to wait another 32 years before I had the privilege to meet him. In 2002, I visited Myitkyina in Myanmar and on arriving at St Columban's Cathedral I met a man outside and I thought he was either a farmer or someone who had dropped in to say a prayer. He was wearing slippers, grey trousers and a shirt hanging out over his trousers. He approached with an outstretched hand and a genuine smile. I introduced myself as a Columban and he invited me in for coffee. He gave me a room and told me to stay as long as I wished. Over coffee, he mentioned several Columbans who worked in the Kachin State and told stories about them. I wondered how he knew so much about the Columbans and still not knowing who he was, I innocently asked, "And what's your name?". He gave a gentle smile and said 'I'm Bishop Paul, Bishop Howe's successor'. I was happily surprised as it was the first time I had met a bishop so simply dressed with no ring on his finger. We hit it off and we enjoyed some great chats over the next three days.
When I returned to Ireland, we kept in contact and in 2003 he told me he was transferred to Mandalay as Archbishop. A few months later he emailed to say he was going to Rome to receive the pallium and would like to stop over in Ireland. This was great news and he spent some time in our Columban House (Dalgan) and met those Columbans still alive who had worked in Myitkyina, like Frs Colm Murphy, David Wall, Paddy Conneally and others.
The late Archbishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng (center), Fr Neil Magill (right) with Missionary Sisters of St Columban. Photo: Missionary Sisters of St Columban
At the weekend, I was going to visit my elderly parents in Derry and asked Bishop Paul if he would like to come with me. He jumped at the idea and he stayed with my parents for three days. He offered the weekend Masses in my home parish and spoke about the importance of the family, something very dear to him. I took him to visit friends and he made a big impression on people.
One 80-year-old lady gave him a 30 minute talk on the ills and injustices in the world. Bishop Paul listened attentively and when she had finished he said, 'You should be the Prime Minister'. She was chuffed, and took delight in telling her friends and neighbours what the Archbishop thought of her. Since then and until his death people around my home place kept asking me 'How is wee Bishop Paul?'
Bishop Paul knew I was finishing my term on the Columban General Council in Ireland in 2006 and he invited me to come to Mandalay to teach in the pre-major seminary. So, in early 2007 I went to Mandalay and my friendship with Bishop Paul grew stronger and stronger. To be appointed Archbishop was a great honour but he remained the simple shepherd.
Both of us were interested in education and in young people, so after a lot of planning we started a Higher Education Centre (HEC) in Mandalay. Again, this was not without difficulties and headaches but we persevered and opened the HEC in 2010. It is a three year residential course to train teachers. Bishop Paul very frequently came to the HEC, offered Mass, chatted with the 150 students and on Sunday nights joined the students for their social night of drama, singing and disco dancing.
Bishop Paul was always out on the floor dancing to the great joy and amazement of the students. He would say 'Life begins at 75'. This meant so much to the students as Bishop Paul debunked the image of pomp and ceremony associated with bishops.
My greatest joy was in early 2017 when Bishop Paul retired as Archbishop of Mandalay and asked me if we could give him a room at the HEC. We prepared a small sitting room and bedroom for him and we were all happy that he was now a fully-fledged HEC family member.
Words which come to mind about this great shepherd are: saintly, encourager, cheerful giver, prayerful, simple lifestyle, patient. He loved everyone and had a special place in his heart for youth and believed in their potential. The Church, Myanmar and all of us are much better because of Archbishop Paul. What a blessing he was to all of us! Always in our hearts.
Columban Fr Neil Magill lives and works in Myanmar.
Listen to "Simply Paul"
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - March 2021
