Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolate Delegate to Myanmar visited Yangon and the affected areas aftermath of tragic Cyclone Nargis and offered the Holy Mass for the victims
Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolate Delegate to Myanmar visited Yangon and the affected areas aftermath of tragic Cyclone Nargis on May 8 and offered the Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m. for the victims at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Yangon together with Archbishop Charles Bo and Auxiliary Bishop Justin of Yangon Archdiocese, Bishop Raymond Pa Ray of Mawlamyine Diocese, Bishop Philip Za Hawng of Lashio Diocese and Bishop Emiritus Mahn Erie of Pathein Diocese. The Mass was also concelebrated by 56 priests, in the presence of 100 religious men and women and around 1000 faithful.
Before the penitential rite, Apostolate Delegate read the Message of the Holy Father to the congregation. In his homily, the Delegate, expressing the Holy Father’s sympathy, solidarity and prayers for the victims of Cyclone Nargis and the people of Myanmar, delivered the congregation the message of consolation and hope reflecting upon the unconditional compassion and love of God to humanity and giving the assurances of heartfelt prayers, concern and concrete humanitarian supports. He encouraged them to put their trust in God - the best hope of all, for the only valid response to human pain and suffering is Christ, who wishes to penetrate the soul of every sufferer through the heart of his holy Mother, the first and the most exalted of all the redeemed.
Before the end of the Mass, Archbishop Charles Bo, on behalf of the congregation and the people of Myanmar expressed, heartfelt gratitude to the Holy Father for his message of sympathy and solidarity for the people of Myanmar and for his concrete gesture of love and compassion in the person of His Grace Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Delegate to Myanmar, whom he also thanked as well for coming to Myanmar as representative of the Holy Father giving the message of consolation and hope by offering the Holy Mass for the victims and people of Myanmar and by visiting some affected parishes and areas in the devastated region.
The Archbishop also mentioned that the losses claimed by Cyclone Nargis are enormous with the number of death toll from 25,000 to 100,000 and hundred thousands of people missing including one priest and one nun. Over 15–16 villages like Laputta in Delta region simply disappeared. Many Catholic villages were also seriously damaged. A great city of Yangon has turned into dry zone and become bare with 70% of trees in the city was uprooted. All the Churches, clergy houses and convents somehow shared the disaster.
The Apostolic Delegate, after the Mass, visited the affected areas and particularly Twante parish church situated in one of the worst damaged regions witnessing hundreds of families displaced and homeless and the destructions and casualties all around.
The Church in Myanmar is appealing from different international agencies and organizations coordinated support and urgent assistance for the suffering people of Myanmar. Myanmar Disaster Relief Committee under the leadership of Yangon Archdiocese is working its best to implement concrete assistance programs to 60,000 families such as; distribution of one week dry ration and water; helping in cleaning of wells for purification of water; distribution of essential cooking vessels, clothing, candles, fuel needs and etc…; distribution of temporary shelter materials; and medical camps in 8 most devastated areas.
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