Fr. Owen O’ Leary reports on a happy reunion in Myanmar.

As we approached Myitkyina my mind went back 35 years to the night I first arrived there. Seven years later I said a dad farewell to Burma, today called Myanmar as the new regime began to force us out of the country. Now in 1994 a group of us Columbans who had formerly worked there were returning on a visit at the invitation of Bishop Paul Grawng. With Sr. Doreothea Byrne, now in Korea, Fr. Paddy Conneally from Australia, Michael Healy and Cyril Murphy from Japan and Mick Healy from London I was traveling back for the Episcopal ordination of Fr. Philip Za Hwang.

The years had passed but the friendships had not been forgotten. As we drove through rice fields and dusty roads to visit again the villages and hill communities where so many Columbans had worked there were crowds to welcome us with garlands and flowers, music and gifts. We soon became experts again in dancing the Manau, the traditional Kachin dance. Many years ago some eyebrows were raised when Bishop John Howe gave this his blessing as part of Christian celebration. Today one finds it as a vibrant part of so many occasions.

The ordination was an impressive and joyful occasion. About 12,000 people turned up from far and near for the outdoor celebration. Things like this don’t happen too often so the people were going to get full value out of the event. Celebrations were planned for several days. When I say people arrived from far and near I mean just that. One group of 25 new Christians walked for 12 days from their mountain village to the down of Poutau, still a long way from Myitkyina. The has every intention of completing the journey but when the organizers of the ordination heard about then they sent then a present plane tickets fir the last 200 miles. The newly ordained bishop a man much loved by the people got a rousing start to his Episcopal career.

On the night of the ordination, as on many nights during our time in Burma there was music, song and dance. One group actually danced a twelve-hand reel learned from Fr. Tom Dowling over forty years ago. Memories of the last time I saw Tom floated back to me. It was when himself, Bob O’Rourke and I were making arrangements for the burial if Fr. John Walshe, murdered by bandits and buried in a shallow gave.

The celebrations continued and broadened their scope. There were reunions and exhibitions, candlelight processions and lunches for the Buddhist priests and local authorities. Finally two young local priests were ordained.

For us it was a joy to participate for a few days in a church that was alive and thriving in spite of so many obstacles.  The Columbans had been asked to work among the Kachins in 1936 and they worked there until 1979 when it was no longer possible to continue. Under the leadership of Bishop Howe great emphasis had been placed on the building up of a strong local church. Today that church flourishes with its own bishops, priests, sisters, brothers and above all, a laity that is inspiring in its commitment and enthusiasm. In many ways it is a dream fulfilled.

As a people they have suffered much in the drawn out conflict between the military regime and the Indigenous peoples. On the national general elections in 1990 the main opposition party won a landslide victory but the military did not step aside and today continue to rule the country by decree.

For 33 years a group of Columbans missionaries had worked in this corner of South East Asia. As our visit ended we felt happy that what had begun as a worked of hope - the foundation of a vibrant local church - had within a short time become a visible reality.