The early works in the Diocese of Banmaw dated back to the time of the Missionaries of Mission Estrangers de Parish (MEP) in 1856. Up to 1939 it was part of the Archdiocese of Mandalay under the charge of MEP. In 1936, the first batch of Irish Columban Missionaries arrived in Banmaw to take charge of area and in 1939 the Kachin State became a separate Prefecture Apostolic having Banmaw as its centre and Rev. Fr. Patrick Usher was named the first Prefect Apostolic. In 1961, it was erected into the diocese of Myitkyina and in the same year Msgr. John Howe was consecrated Bishop of Myitkyina.
The growth in the Catholic faith increased rapidly during the time of Columban missionaries as more mission centre and schools were established with more missionaries coming in. But all the missionaries were expelled in 1966 and schools, hospitals and dispensaries were nationalized. But the church continued growing slowly so as the native priests and religious increased.
On April3, 1976 Bishop John Howe ordained Fr. Paul Grawng as the first Kachin Bishop. On April 24, 1977 Bishop John Howe handed over the diocese to Bishop Paul Grawng and the indigenous clergy. All the Columbans completely withdrew in July, 1979.
On August 28, 2006 Pope Benedict XVI created Diocese of Banmaw and appointed Msgr. Raymond Sumlut Gam as the first Bishop of the Diocese. On November 17, 2006 the new Diocese was blessed and on the 18th November, 2006 the new Bishop of Banmaw Msgr. Raymond Sumlut Gam was ordained and enthroned by His Grace Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolate Delegate to Myanmar.
LOCATION
Banmaw Diocese is situated in the southeast part of the Kachin State bordered with China to the east, Myitkyina Diocese to the northwest, Mandalay Archdiocese and Lashio Diocese to the south. It includes the civil districts of Banmaw, Mansi, Shwegu and Momawk.
The greater part of the diocese is mountainous area with communication difficult. The Ayeyarwaddy, the main river of the country flows through the western part of the region, north to south, providing water resources and means of transport and irrigation. Land roads and very occasional plane services facilitate travel in parts of the diocese, but the hill sections have to be covered on foot.
General Statistics:
Area in sq. miles : 4006
Catholic Population : 20989
Catholic Families : 5147
Parishes : 10
Quasi Parishes : 2
Priests : 11
Women Religious Congregations : 3
Men Religious Congregations : 1
Women Religious : 48
Men Religious : 6
Vocational Training School : 1
Major Seminarians : 9
Pre-Major Seminaries : 13
Minor Seminarians : 15
Catechists : 174
His ExcellencyThe growth in the Catholic faith increased rapidly during the time of Columban missionaries as more mission centre and schools were established with more missionaries coming in. But all the missionaries were expelled in 1966 and schools, hospitals and dispensaries were nationalized. But the church continued growing slowly so as the native priests and religious increased.
On April3, 1976 Bishop John Howe ordained Fr. Paul Grawng as the first Kachin Bishop. On April 24, 1977 Bishop John Howe handed over the diocese to Bishop Paul Grawng and the indigenous clergy. All the Columbans completely withdrew in July, 1979.
On August 28, 2006 Pope Benedict XVI created Diocese of Banmaw and appointed Msgr. Raymond Sumlut Gam as the first Bishop of the Diocese. On November 17, 2006 the new Diocese was blessed and on the 18th November, 2006 the new Bishop of Banmaw Msgr. Raymond Sumlut Gam was ordained and enthroned by His Grace Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolate Delegate to Myanmar.
LOCATION
Banmaw Diocese is situated in the southeast part of the Kachin State bordered with China to the east, Myitkyina Diocese to the northwest, Mandalay Archdiocese and Lashio Diocese to the south. It includes the civil districts of Banmaw, Mansi, Shwegu and Momawk.
The greater part of the diocese is mountainous area with communication difficult. The Ayeyarwaddy, the main river of the country flows through the western part of the region, north to south, providing water resources and means of transport and irrigation. Land roads and very occasional plane services facilitate travel in parts of the diocese, but the hill sections have to be covered on foot.
General Statistics:
Area in sq. miles : 4006
Catholic Population : 20989
Catholic Families : 5147
Parishes : 10
Quasi Parishes : 2
Priests : 11
Women Religious Congregations : 3
Men Religious Congregations : 1
Women Religious : 48
Men Religious : 6
Vocational Training School : 1
Major Seminarians : 9
Pre-Major Seminaries : 13
Minor Seminarians : 15
Catechists : 174
Bishop raymond sumlut gam
(bishop of banmaw)
Date of Birth 19.06.53
Ordained Priest 29.03.81
Ordained Bishop 18.11.06
Address: St. Patrick's Cathedral,
Kokko Taw
Banmaw
Tel: 074-50453 (Banmaw)
Tel: & Fax: 074-23016/17 (Myitkyina)
e-mail: c/o ftang@myanmar.com.mm
Diocesan Procurator: Fr. Joseph Aung Li
Diocesan Commissions
1. Karuna Banamaw : Fr. Paul Aung Dang
2. Ecuminism, Youth & Social Communication : Fr. John Zau Doi
3. Liturgy & Family : Fr. Joseph Nbwi Naw
4. Laity & PMS : Fr. Joseph Labang Tu
5. Tourism & Immigration : Fr. Stephen Lau Mun
parish communities
01. St. Patrick's Cathedral St. Columban's
Kokko Taw, Banmaw
Tel: 074-50453
(Pastor) Fr. John Lahtaw Zau Doi
02. St. Michael's Church Nanhlaing (Pastor) Fr. Stephen Lau Mun
03. St.Joseph's Church Mainghkat
(Pastor) Fr. Stephen Lau Mun
04. St. Patrick's Church Momauk, (Pastor) Fr. Joseph Labang Tu
05. St. Patrick's Church Sinlum
(Pastor) Fr. Joseph Labang Tu
06. Immaculate Conception Church
Pangkhak
(Pastor) Fr. Patrick Jangmaw Tu Shan
07. Catholic Church Zaubung (Pastor) Fr. Stephen Zaw Min Latt
08. St Joseph's Church Tingsing (Pastor) Fr. Patrick Jangmaw Tu Shan
09. St. Joseph's Church Namlim Pa
(Pastor) Fr. Peter Lazum Tu
10. Church of Our Lady of Assumption
Prang Hkudung
(Pastor) Fr. Pascal Hpaudau Tu Ja
11. St. Joseph's Church Mansi ( Quasi- Parish)
(Pastor) Fr. Paul Lahpai Awng Dang
12. St. Peter's Church Shwegu (Quasi-Parish)
(Pastor) Fr. Francis Saw Phe Han
Priests in the Diocese of Banmaw
No. Names Birth Date Ordained
01. Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam 19.06.53 29.03.81
02. Fr. Joseph Gawlu Gam 22.01.43 01.03.73
03. Fr. Joseph Labang Tu 13.08.45 04.04.76
04. Fr. Joseph Nbwi Naw 27.07.53 17.05.81
05. Fr. Joseph Awng Li 06.09.62 30.09.90
06. Fr. John Zau Doi 26.08.59 03.04.93
07. Fr. Stephen Lau Mun 15.06.67 19.04.97
08. Fr. Patrick Jangmaw Tu Shan 04.01.65 29.03.98
09. Fr. Stephen Zaw Min Latt 24.12.73 19.04.01
10. Fr. Pascal Hpaudau Tu Ja 09.03.75 24.04.02
11. Fr. Paul Lahpai Awng Dang 22.02.75 03.08.03
12. Fr. Peter Lazum Tu 19.03.71 29.03.06 13. Fr. Francis Saw Phe Han
2 comments:
I am a historian of the Catholic Church, and I will be in Bamaw on February 9 (afternoon and evening) and February 10 (morning and early afternoon). I would be happy to visit the church, and I would be willing to give a talk in English. I have written 3 books about St Francis of Assisi, and I can speak of what it means that our pope chose the name Francis. I cannot find an email address for the Bishop of Bamaw, so I would appreciate it if this message could be passed to him. I am coming to Bamaw because my father served in the US Army there during World War II. My email address is billcookgeneseo@hotmail.com. You can learn about me on my website, www.bill-cook.com.
Professor William R Cook
I am a historian of the Catholic Church, and I will be in Bamaw on February 9 (afternoon and evening) and February 10 (morning and early afternoon). I would be happy to visit the church, and I would be willing to give a talk in English. I have written 3 books about St Francis of Assisi, and I can speak of what it means that our pope chose the name Francis. I cannot find an email address for the Bishop of Bamaw, so I would appreciate it if this message could be passed to him. I am coming to Bamaw because my father served in the US Army there during World War II. My email address is billcookgeneseo@hotmail.com. You can learn about me on my website, www.bill-cook.com.
Professor William R Cook
December 17, 2014
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