A Christmas thanksgiving and fellowship luncheon ceremony, organized by federations of Christian churches in Myanmar, was held yesterday at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Catholic Church in Botahtaung Township, Yangon Region. The event was attended by Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and State Security and Peace Commission Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
The
ceremony was also attended by Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, wife of the Senior General;
Secretary of the Commission General Ye Win Oo and his wife, commission members
and their wives, Union ministers and their wives, the Yangon Region chief
minister, senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief
and their wives, the commander of Yangon Command, the Yangon mayor, reverends
from the Myanmar Council of Churches, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar,
Myanmar Evangelical Christian Alliance and Myanmar Christian Mission
Cooperation, officials from the Myanmar Interfaith Dialogue Group, Christian
communities in Myanmar, Catholic youth groups, and Christian township elders.
On
arrival at the Saint Mary’s Cathedral Church, the Senior General, his wife and
party were welcomed by Archbishop Cardinal Charles Bo, president of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, and Christian youths performed the
carols and dances.
The
Senior General, his wife and Cardinal Charles Bo had documentary photos taken
together with those Christian youths.
The
Senior General, his wife and party viewed round the vehicles used by Pope
Francis on his tour of Myanmar, kept at the Saint Mary’s Cathedral Church, and
watched a documentary videos on the visit of Pope Francis to Myanmar in
November 2017 and on the Christmas prayer services and fellowship events of
Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and State Security and
Peace Commission Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Cardinal Charles
Bo.
The
Senior General, his wife and party arrived at the Church, where the second
session of the ceremony followed. They were welcomed by reverends from the
Myanmar Council of Churches, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, Myanmar
Evangelical Christian Alliance and Myanmar Christian Mission Cooperation,
officials from the Myanmar Interfaith Dialogue Group.
An
opening prayer was delivered by U Pho Pho Hla, Reverend of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church in Myanmar.
The
Senior General and his wife, together with attendees at the ceremony, joined in
singing the congregational hymn, “O Blessed Myanmar Land”.
Archbishop
Steven Than Myint Oo, Chairman of the Myanmar Council of Churches, extended
greetings. After that, singer Pan Yaung Chal performed a hymn of praise.
In
his greetings, the Senior General expressed his best wishes and prayers that,
as this Christmas festival arrives at a time when seasons and occasions
converge, Christians, the people of the nation, and all people around the world
may live with love and peace under the shelter of religious compassion. He
added that Christmas not only spreads love among humanity but also reflects one
of the noble and essential values of the Christian faith.
The
Senior General continued that in today’s world, which is home to all humanity,
there are many religions, and it is widely recognized that four major religions
– Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam – are generally identified as the
principal faiths. Religion consists of teachings, beliefs and moral principles
and should be understood as being founded on core principles such as love,
compassion, and empathy. He further expressed his firm belief that it is the
guidance of love and compassion inherent in each faith that can bring peace and
harmony to humanity.
The
Senior General stated that when the entire human community lives in peace and
harmony, ultimately, the world itself becomes peaceful and prosperous.
Conversely, hatred and resentment between individuals lead only to evils such
as domination, oppression, and violence within human communities. He emphasized
that it is only through the ultimate principles of religion, such as love and
compassion, that such evils can be overcome, creating a world imbued with love,
peace, and harmony.
With
regard to the faiths, the Senior General revealed that Section 34 of the
Constitution (2008) clearly states “Every citizen is equally entitled to
freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess and practise religion
subject to public order, morality or health and to the other provisions of this
Constitution”. Hence, everyone has been granted the right to freedom of
conscience for any religion.
He
noted that in Myanmar, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, and followers of
other faiths have coexisted for many centuries. Regardless of differences in
religious beliefs, they have lived together without insulting, discriminating
against, or harming one another, showing mutual respect and fostering a spirit
of national unity while working with a sincere, cooperative attitude for the
well-being and progress of the country.
He
stressed the need for followers of different faiths to continue preserving
these positive traditions and urged them to jointly prevent any acts of
interference or conflict — whether aimed at undermining unity or diminishing
mutual respect and trust — by working together with a spirit of family-like
cooperation.
He
stated that all religions share common ethical principles and guidelines for
conduct, which are fundamentally based on mental well-being. Such mental purity
and clarity greatly support the physical peace, development, and progress of
humanity, contributing to the prosperity and harmony of entire communities.
Therefore, he affirmed a strong belief that religion represents a set of noble
teachings.
He
urged that, based on the principles of peace established by various religions,
everyone should uphold these values to help create a stable, peaceful, modern
and developed Union. He encouraged all citizens to work together to peacefully
advance along the path of inclusive, multiparty democracy that the people
aspire to.
He
expressed his sincere wishes and prayers that, on this auspicious occasion of
the Christmas celebration, all Christian clergy and believers leading the
event, the attending guests, the citizens of the country, and Christians around
the world may each embrace the essence of peace from this festive day onward
and live joyfully and harmoniously.
Chair
of Myanmar Evangelical Christian Alliance Reverend Dr U Aye Min prayed for the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar while the Methodist English Church choir
performed and accompanied a Christmas choral hymn.
This
was followed by the guests, led by Dr Myo Myint Oo, an ordained minister and
Chairman of the Myanmar Christian Mission Cooperation, who participated in
reading responses for the birthday celebration. A Sister conducted a Bible
reading, and Cardinal Charles Bo delivered a Christmas sermon.
Cardinal
Charles Bo, Archbishop Steven Than Myint Oo and Reverend Dr Aye Min presented a
commemorative gift, a Christmas prayer for Christmas and a mosaic painting to
the Senior General and his wife, who returned Christmas commemorative gifts.
Reverend
Mahn Palmerston delivered a vote of thanks, and Dr Maurice Lyana offered a
Christmas blessing for the fellowship meal and expressed gratitude to all those
who participated.
After
that, the audience sang the hymn “Silent Night” in harmony. Then, Cardinal
Charles Bo delivered Christmas greetings, wishing that on this blessed
Christmas occasion, not only Christians but all humanity around the world may
be filled with the goodness and blessings of Christmas. He also wished that in
the New Year, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar may enjoy peace and
prosperity, and extended his blessings to the Acting President of the Republic
of the Union of Myanmar and SSPC Chairman and his wife, and all the people of
Myanmar.
The
Senior General and his wife cordially greeted the attendees and had the
luncheon together with the guests.
MNA/TTA
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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