YANGON ARCHDIOCESE

Archdiocesan Officials A. Ordinary of Yangon Archdiocese Archbishop Charles Bo was born in Monhla Village, Shwebo District, Mandalay Division on Oct. 29, 1948. He is the son of U John and Juliana Daw Aye Tin. He studied at "Nazareth" Salesian Aspirantate, Anisakan, in Pyin Oo Lwin from 1962-1976. He made his first profession on May 24, 1970, and his final profession on March 10, 1976. He was ordained a Salesian priest at Lashio, Northern Shan State, on April 9, 1976. After ordination, he was parish priest of Loihkam from 1976-1981 and in Lashio from 1981-1985, he was posted to Anisakan as a formator/rector of Anisakan Salesian Seminary. He served as Apostolic Administrator in Lashio from 1985-1986 and as Apostolic Prefect from 1986-1990. He was ordained Bishop of Lashio in Shan State on Dec. 16, 1990. On May 24, 1996 he was transferred to Pathein diocese in Ayeyarwaddy Division, and was installed as Bishop of Pathein on Aug. 25, 1996. While being Bishop of Pathein, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Lashio diocese from May 1996 to November 1998 and of Mandalay archdiocese on April 3, 2002 to June 2003. On May 24, 2003, he was appointed Archbishop of Yangon and was installed on June 7, 2003. Archbishop Bo is now Secretary General & Treasurer of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar (CBCM), and is in charge of the Commission for Inter-religious, Commission for Liturgy, Commission for Consecrated Life, Commission for Formation of Formators, Commission for Culture and Commission for Theologate. Address: Archbishop's House, 289, Theinbyu Street, Botahtaung Township P.O.11161, Yangon, Myanmar Phone: (95) 1-392517, 245467 Fax: (95) 1-379059 Email Office: archdygn@myanmar.com.mm Email Personal: maungbo@baganmail.net.mm Previous Ordinaries Rt. Rev. Sotero Phamo, Apostolic Administrator (2002-2003) Archbishop Gabriel Thohey Mahn-gaby (1971-2002), Address: c/o Church of Epiphany, 18, Chit Yeik Mon Lane, Kaweichan, Mayangone Township, Bayintnaung P.O. Phone: (95) 01-662112 Most Rev. Dr. Victor Bazin, M.E.P., Vicar Apostolic of Yangon (1955-1971) Rt. Rev. Dr. Federico Guiseppe Provost, M.E.P., Vicar Apostolic of Yangon (1931-1952) Rt. Rev. Felix Perroy, Vicar Apostolic of Lower Burma (1921-1931) Rt. Rev. Alex Cardot, Vicar Apostolic of Lower Burma (1893-1926) Rt. Rev. Paul Bigandet, Vicar Apostolic of Burma (1856-1894) B. Other Archdiocesan Officials Vicar General: Monsignor Gordon Anthony Address: St. Augustine's Church, 64, Inya Road, University P.O. Yangon. Phone: (95) 1-534620 Secretary: Father Noel Saw Aye Address: Archbishop's House, 289, Theinbyu Street, Botahtaung P.O.11161, Yangon, Myanmar Phone: (95) 1-392517 Fax: (95) 1-379059 Email: archdygn@myanmar.com.mm Procurator: Fr. Justin Saw Min Thide Address: Archbishop's House, 289, Theinbyu Street, Botahtaung P.O.11161, Yangon, Myanmar Phone: (95) 1-392517 Fax: (95) 1-379059 Email: email200@myanmar.com.mm Counselors: Monsignor Gordon Anthony (Vicar General) Father Ephrem Saw Po Paing (Chancellor) Father Justin Saw Min Thide (Procurator) Father Edward San Thein Father Hyginus Myint Soe Father Victor Nyan Myint Father Simon Tin Mg Father John Paul Zaw Min Aye Father Victor Maung Thit Statistics A. Catholic Population As of 2003, Yangon diocese had 81,565 Catholics, representing 0.54 percent of the 15 million people in Yangon. B. Archdiocesan and Religious Priests Diocesan priests: 88 (all Myanmar nationals) Religious priests: 4 (3 Myanmar nationals, 1 foreigner) C. Religious Brothers, Sisters Religious Brothers: 35 (all Myanmar nationals) Religious Sisters: 230 (all Myanmar nationals) D. Minor and Major Seminaries, Houses of Formation Major seminary: St. Joseph's National Catholic Seminary Address: 14, Malikha Road Mayangone P.O. Yangon, Myanmar Phone: (95) 1-662771, 660182 E-mail: cmstheo@mptmail.net.mm Seminarians: 35 Minor seminary: St. Joseph's Minor Seminary Address: 2, Thanatpin Road, Bago, Bago Division Phone: (95) 052-21330 Seminarians: 88 Houses of Formation: Sts. Peter & Paul Bible Training School Address: 2129 B.O.C. Station Road, Nanthagone Insein, Yangon, Myanmar Phone: (95) 1-643781 E. There are 49 parishes in the diocese Archdiocesan Activities and Organizations A. Major Archdiocesan Commissions and Organizations Counselors Presbyterial Council Finance Committee The Tribunal Board of Management Buildings & Constructions Commission Catechist Commission Cemetery Commission Culture & Evangelization Commission Ecumenism & Inter-Faith Commission Education & Teacher's Association Commission Episcopal Commission for Clergy Commission Family Commission Health Commission (Doctors/Nurses) Karuna Yangon Social Services Laity Commission Legion of Mary Commission Literature & Archdiocesan Library Commission Liturgy Commission Migrants & Tourism Commission National Shrine & Pilgrimage Commission Peace, Social & Racial Justice Commission Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) & Animation for Children Commission Public Relations Commission (Embassies) Public Relations Commission (Government) Religious Communities Commission St. Vincent De Paul Seminary & Sending Priests & Seminarians Abroad Commission Social Communication Commission Transfers of Priests & Division of Parishes Commission Commission on Visiting Priests, Houses & Activities of Other Dioceses in Yangon Archdiocese Vocation Promoter Commission Women's Affairs Commission Youth Commission -- Apostolate Youth Association (AYA) & University Catholic Students Association (UCSA) B. Catholic Educational Institutions Education Centers: Hope Centre (Computer and Foreign Languages Training Centre) Address: 39(C), Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Bahan Township, Yangon. Phone: (95) 1-554297 Pope John Paul II Youth & Education Centre Address: 64, Inya Road, Kamayut P.O. Yangon. Phone: (95) 1-534620 (office); (95) 1-542794 (residence) Lasalle Computer Centre Address: c/o 16(B), R-3/4, San Yeik Nyein Lane(2), Kamayut Township, Yangon. Phone: (95) 1- 660726 C. Catholic Social Welfare Homes for the elderly: 1 Address: Home for The Aged Poor, 539 Theinbyu Street Kandawgalay P.O. Yangon. Phone: (95) 1-243983; (95) 1-243984 Boarding Schools/Orphanages: 19 Youth Center: 1 Address: John Paul II Youth & Education Centre, 64, Inya Road, University P.O., Yangon. Phone: (95) 1-710493 The boarding School at Kyaiklatt Archbishop Charles Bo celebrates the Year of the Eucharist with villagers D. Social Communications Fr. Benedict Htay Lwin (Head) Mahn Joe, Mahn Paul (co.) Office: Ss. Peter & Paul's Bible Training School, 2129 B.O.C. Station Road, Nanthagone Insein, Yangon. Phone: (95) 1-643781 (Office); (95) 1-525808 (Residence) Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes A. Religious Institutes of Men (click here for details) De La Salle Brothers ~ FSC Little Brothers of St. Francis Xavier Salesians of St. John Bosco ~ SDB Society of Jesus ~ SJ B. Religious Institutes of Women (click here for details) Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters) ~ FMA Franciscan Missionaries of Mary ~ FMM Franciscan Sisters Of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Good Shepherd Sisters ~ RGS Little Way Sisters of St. Theresa Missionary Sisters of St. Paul Servite Sisters of Mary ~ OSM Sisters of Charity ~ SCCG Sisters of Infant Jesus ~ IJ Sisters of Our Lady Of The Missions ~ RNDM Sisters of Providence Sisters of Reparation Sisters Of St Francis Xavier ~ SFX Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition ~ SJA General Characteristics of the Archdiocese Yangon is the capital city of Myanmar. There are altogether 14 states and divisions. Yangon archdiocese comprises the whole of the Yangon (Superior) Division, parts of Bago Division, Ayeyawaddy Division, and Kayin and Mon states. It shares a common boundary with Thailand. The archdiocese covers an area of 77,355 square kilometers with hills, mountains and fields. The total population in the whole archdiocese is about 15 million and Catholics numbered 81,565 in 2003. Buddhism is the dominant religion in the archdiocese. There are about 600,000 Catholics in Myanmar, of which 81,565, or 1.4 percent, are in Yangon archdiocese. There are 49 parishes and subparishes comprising around 400 villages. In 1954, the Catholic Hierarchy of Burma (Myanmar) was established by Pope Pius XII, and the Vicariate of Southern Burma was divided into two sections. The larger eastern portion of the vicariate became the Archdiocese of Rangoon (Yangon). The western portion, comprising the three districts of Bassein (Pathein), Myaungmya and Henzada, became the Diocese of Bassein. Archbishop Victor Bazin was appointed head of the Archdiocese of Rangoon on Jan. 1 1955. On June 19, 1971, Archbishop V. Bazin retired and returned to France the same year. Archbishop Gabriel Thohey Mahn-Gaby succeeded him as the Archbishop of Rangoon. On Sept. 28, 2002, he retired and Bishop Sotero Phamo (Bishop of Loikaw) was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Yangon. On May 24, 2003, His Holiness Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Charles Bo Archbishop of Yangon. He was installed on June 7, 2003 by Archbishop Adriano Bernardini, the Apostolic Delegate to the Union of Myanmar. The website of Yangon Archdiocese is available at: www.yangondiomm.org