MANDALAY: 25th January 2005 --  The very first news item recieved from our Myanmar correspondent is one for rejoicing.  Two young Burmese Salesians were ordained priest on 16th January by the Bishop of Mandalay, Bishop Paul Zing Htung Grwang.

    Frs Andrew Yan Naing Win  and Bosco Ai lang Thang had completed their philosophical and theological studies at Sacred Heart College Shillong, India and Christu Jyoti College Bangalore, also in India.

    These ordinations are of particular significance for the new vice province of Myanmar, since it depends very much on the development of local vocations for the future of Salesian work in the vice province.  Fr. Joachim Ye Maung, the superior of the vice province, was one of the concelebrants at the ordination Mass, but so also was Bishop Philip Za Hawng of Lashio Diocese.  It is something of a rarity to have two Bishops present for an ordination ceremony.

    The two newly ordained priests celebrated their first Mass at Nazareth Aspirantate and St. Joseph Philosophate, Anisakan.

________________________