Myanmar’s Loikaw Diocese Gets New Bishop

April 1, 2023219 views0

Myanmar’s Loikaw Diocese Gets New Bishop

2023-04-01T10:21:55+01:00

By Church News

Pope Francis has named Monsignor Celso Ba Shwe as the new bishop of Loikaw diocese — the worst affected diocese in civil war-torn Myanmar.

Bishop-elect Shwe succeeds Bishop Stephen Tjephe, who died in December 2020.

Bells rang at the Christ the King Cathedral in Loikaw, capital of eastern Kayah State, bordering Thailand, on March 29 when retired bishop Sotero Phamo revealed the new appointment.

Over a thousand faithful, including many internally displaced persons (IDPs), gathered at the cathedral to hear the news about the new 58-year-old Bishop-elect Shwe.“We thank God as we are in a very challenging time as IDPs are thirsty for spiritual and moral support from the bishop, the clergy and religious,” Shwe said.He further said, “I am not worthy of receiving this position, but I believe God has a plan to use me for his people despite many challenges.”The new bishop played a leading role in providing humanitarian assistance to IDPs in the Loikaw diocese where 16 parishes out of 38 are severely affected by a longstanding conflict which has intensified since the junta ousted the elected government in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021.When clashes and protests started in Loikaw in May 2021 following the military coup, he played a mediator role between unarmed protesters, who also included Christians and the security forces. About 90,000 Catholics live in Kayah State with a population of 300,000.“Becoming a bishop is for the poor and for those who are most in need, including IDPs. So, I will prioritize it,” Shwe said.

Bishop Shwe was born on July 22, 1964, in Momblo village and was ordained a Loikaw diocesan priest on April 16, 1994.

He has served as general procurator of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar(CBCM) for nine years and was vicar general and parish priest of Christ the King Cathedral from 2010 to 2020.

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