5657(I)_Myanmar prenovices reach out to needy people

5657(I)_Myanmar prenovices reach out to needy people

By Fr. Paschal Thi Ko Shine


Hsipaw Prenovitiate community, Myanmar, 26 July 2021 -- We have visited 40 families already last week and our occasional food help in this difficult time of the pandemic goes on!


The Salesians of Don Bosco, on 25 July (Sunday), did a simple sharing with the twenty poor families who are struggling with their daily living. The lives of ordinary poor people become tough and miserable due to the Covid 19 pandemic and unstable political situation especially in the rural or mountain areas like Thibaw.


The Salesians (Rector Fr Henry and Prenovicemaster Fr Paschal) with the help of the generous benefactors took the risk in reaching out to share God's blessings with some poor and needy families in Hsipaw, northern Shan state of Myanmar.


"As we thank God for everything we receive, we also recognize God's goodness and blessing which are not just for us. These have to be shared with others, especially with those who are most in need. We give because we have received. Those of us who have received much are bound to give more."


We believe in the depth of our hearts: "If only we offer to the Lord even the little that we are and we have, the Lord can make great miracles out of our offerings, out of ourselves, and out of the little that we have. Indeed our destinataries are very poor and we don't make distinction about religion, many non-Christians are being assisted as well.


St. Mother Teresa of Kolkatta said "We ourselves feel we are doing just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. If you cannot feed a hundred people, then feed just one".


Indeed, we cannot do everything but we can do at least 'something' - so we continue this occasional sharing from our poor resources, sometimes boosted by Caritas or SDB solidarity.


NB: The Thibaw (Hsipaw) community is entrusted with one large mountain area parish with few chapels, composed of different ethnic groups. Salesians also look after a hostel for the students in the town who are heading from the villages and the two year course of the prenovitiate.