The lights of Easter Vigil illuminated a community marked by suffering. After three years, some faithful returned to the Church of Christ the King. It had been occupied by the Myanmar military, forcing the local population to flee. Bishop Celso Ba Shwe has remained with the displaced in the forest. “We ask God for a time of peace and reconciliation,” he said.

Loikaw (AsiaNews/Agencies) – After years of silence, fear, and dispersal, the Catholic community of the Diocese of Loikaw met again in the Cathedral of Christ the King to celebrate the Easter Vigil.

This is the first Easter celebration since 2023, Vatican News reported, an event of consolation and hope for local Catholics, scarred by a civil war that continues to tear the country apart.

In November 2023, the cathedral complex was taken over by Myanmar troops, who turned it into a military base to attack armed resistance groups. At the time, about 80 civilians, priests, and religious, along with Bishop Celso Ba Shwe, had taken refuge inside the church.

Forced to flee due to heavy fighting, the faithful fled into the forest, while the town of Loikaw was emptied of its population.

Despite the great confusion, the bishop remained close to the displaced, with whom he set up a travelling Church among the tents of those who had lost everything after escaping the town, where most homes were set on fire, and farmland was surrounded by landmines.

Only recently, the withdrawal of the military allowed two priests to return and reclaim the Cathedral of Christ the King and the pastoral complex. Hence, for the first time in three years, some religious as well as faithful were able to celebrate Easter together.

“Today, the situation remains extremely critical, characterized by ongoing armed conflict and a severe humanitarian emergency,” said Fr Paul Tinreh, speaking to Vatican News; nevertheless, the reopening of the cathedral was welcomed as a sign of hope.

The “people of God can invoke peace, salvation, and liberation, just like the people of Israel,” added the clergyman. “Our hope for Easter is victory over death, darkness, and despair, for all our people, in communion with the risen Christ.”

For his part, Bishop Celso Ba Shwe remains far from Loikaw, in the village of Soudu, along with the displaced. His presence remains a point of reference for Catholic families hiding in “the forests”.

“I stand by their side and, with other priests and religious, we make our solidarity known to these faithful. We support the faith of the people and, together with them, we live Easter, the passage from darkness to light. We ask God for a time of peace and reconciliation,” the bishop said.

Kayah State is one of the areas hardest hit by the war, along with other areas inhabited mostly by the country's ethnic minorities.

The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country is expected to reach four million by the end of this year, with the main cities still under government control.

In December and January, the junta held sham elections to strengthen its grip on power.

Meanwhile, in cities like Yangon, churches were once again full for Easter celebrations. Joseph Kung, a Catholic educator, noted that “people are filling the churches; the faithful are not afraid to attend church for Easter celebrations”.

For him, this “is a sign of great faith and resilience, a sign of hope for all of us. We strengthen each other, we go to pray and receive the sacraments because we know that evil does not have the last word, and Christ has won over death,” he explained.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo also issued a message during Holy Thursday Mass calling for peace. He urged the country to experience an Easter of reconciliation, noting that “if we walk alone, if we think selfishly about only ourselves, we do not build peace.”

“Peace,” the cardinal added, “is born from meeting and accepting the other as a brother and a gift from God.” Indeed, “If we aspire to peace, we must connect with each other, come toward one another, shake hands, and involve ourselves with those in need and distress.”

Ultimately, “Easter is an opportunity to make peace.”

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