Bishop John Saw Yaw Han The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) has urged the Faithful across the country to join a day of prayer to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pope Francis accepted a proposal from the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for May 14 to be a day of prayer, fasting and works of charity to call for divine intercession to help humanity overcome the virus.
The Pope made the announcement after praying the Regina Caeli at the Vatican and the CBCM issued a letter requesting bishops from 16 dioceses to encourage Catholics to join them.
Bishop John Saw Yaw Han, secretary-general of the CBCM, signed the letter last week, while Cardinal Charles Bo of the Archdiocese of Yangon called for a focus on prayer, fasting and charitable works on the date.
“As prayer is a universal value,” said Pope Francis. “I have accepted the proposal of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity so that believers of all religions unite spiritually in a day of prayer and fasting and works of charity to implore God to help humanity overcome the coronavirus pandemic.”
Church officials in Myanmar have extended the suspension of public Masses and other liturgical ceremonies in 16 dioceses to May 15 and urged people to follow guidelines from the Health Ministry.
Campaigns
The CBCM and Caritas (Karuna) Myanmar have joined the nation’s battle against Covid-19 through awareness campaigns, providing health aids, equipment and offering Church properties as quarantine centres.
In addition, diocesan response teams and nuns have also reached out to the communities most in need by providing basic food items such as rice, cooking oil, beans and salt.