Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Pathein



In 1954, the Diocese of Pathein (Bassein) was officially erected when His Holiness Pope Pius XII established the Catholic Hierarchy in Burma (now called Myanmar, South East Asia). Apostolate began among the Karens of the Delta area in 1844 by an Italian Priest, Fr Dominic Tarolli, who had come over to Burma with Bishop Cao in 1831. In 1846, he was joined by Fr. Pogolotti, an Oblate cleric recently ordained at Amarapura in 1843. Myaungmya was fixed as their Headquarters or Mission Centre. Fr. Tarolli, however, was made prisoner during the second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. The mission establishments were totally destroyed. On the arrival of Bishop Bigandet to Burma in 1856, he appointed Fr. Lacrampe and Fr. Naude to evangelize this area. At the cost of much sacrifice and toil, early intrepid pioneers Frs. Lacrampe, Naude and Tardivel managed to establish a flourishing mission. Kanazogon became the Mission Centre for Fr. Lacrampe. He soon set up a Church, a clergy house, and a school. By 1862 there were already one thousand Catholics. Fr. Naude, instead, went across to Maryland and opened up a Mission there. Other outstanding missionary figures like Fr. Tardivel, Fr. Bringaud, Fr. Rouver, Fr. Maigre and Fr. Boudard did much to spread the Good News throughout this difficult virgin area. At this time, Fr. George D’Cruz initiated the Apostolate of the Press among the Karens. The tireless and zealous efforts of those first missionaries along with the sweat and toil of Burma's own native Priests, the Church in Bassein (later named Pathein) steadily developed. In 1954, the first ever Bishop of Pathein, Msgr. George U Kyaw, was consecrated Bishop. Bishop George U Kyaw administered the Diocese from 1955 to 1967. Fr. Joseph Mahn Erie succeeded him as the next Bishop. He was solemnly consecrated in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon (Rangoon) by the Apostolic Delegate, Msgr. G. Caprio, on June 12, 1968. Bishop Mahn Erie governed the Diocese until his subsequent resignation in the middle of 1982. The elderly priest, Fr. Sequeira, took over as Bishop of Pathein in 1985. On April 27, 1988, Fr. John Gabriel was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Bassein. A few years later, Bishop Sequeira had to retire due to his advanced age and Bishop John Gabriel was installed as the Bishop of Bassein on February 23, 1992. Bishop John Gabriel was bishop for only six years. He died on August 14, 1994. Afterwards, Msgr. Paulinus Mahn Ei Shaung was elected Vicar Capitular of the Diocese of Pathein. Finally, after a couple of years, Bishop Charles Bo, SDB (the incumbent Bishop of Lashio) was appointed as the fifth See of Pathein on May 24, 1996. He was officially installed on August 25, 1996. Energetic and willing to serve and develop the Diocese of Pathein, His Excellency Bishop Charles Bo, SDB, convened a Diocesan Synod December 12-21, 1997, greatly improving the total development of the Diocese. On 22 March 2003, Fr. John Hsane Hgyi was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Pathein. He was installed as bishop of Pathein on August 24, 2003, when His Excellency Charles Bo, SDB, became Archbishop of Yangon. Bishop John Hsane Hgyi has restructured the teaching methods and promoted a healthier rebuilding of the area after being faced with the hardships following Cyclone Nargis, a very strong tropical cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma (officially known as Myanmar), the deadliest named cyclone in the North Indian Ocean Basin, and the second deadliest named cyclone of all time that made landfall in the country on May 2, 2008. Bishop John Hsane Hgyi has instituted classes to teach volunteers to teach children in a way that the children want to come to school and want to learn. Organic farming is being taught to farmers in the area affected by the cyclone. Traveling medical clinics are being brought to the people of the Nargis-affected areas. People are receiving medical and dental treatment; much needed medicine is being distributed; and health education is offered to villagers.