Theological background:
The mission of the Church continues through the Church personnel such as clergy and the religious men and women?, working in the diocese of Pathein. The threefold functions such as teaching, sanctifying and governing in the life and ministry of the priests was put into practice in the mission of the diocese. The life of the consecrated people ( religious men and women) through the observation of the evangelical counsels ( obedience, poverty and chastity) make a great contribution in spread of the evangelization among the people in this region.
Commission functioning in the diocese:
In fact, the life and mission of the Clergy and that of the Consecrated life started functioning since the foundation of the mission in this diocese of Pathein in the time of foreign missionaries. However the diocesan Commission for the Clergy and Consecrated life as it is now was established in the first diocesan synod of Pathein in 1997 and then continues with its structure. Currently the Clergy of Pathein are working in 36 parishes in the diocese of Pathein. Some of the priests are working in the formation houses like Minor Seminary, Catechist training school, Youth formation center and others in the diocesan commissions and offices. The religious life in the diocese started since the time of the missionaries the diocesan Congregation of St. Francis Xavier Sisters was founded in 1897 and the diocesan Congregation of St. Francis Xavier Brothers was founded in 1941. The novitiates of those two Congregation are situated in Mayanchaung, near Pathein town. St. Paul Missionaries ( both men and women religious), Sisters of Charity of Maria Banbina, Sister of Servite Orders and Sister of St. John Paul II are also working in the Diocese of Pathein.
Focus Areas:
â— Initial formation ( Seminary/ Novitiates)
â— Ongoing Formation ( Clergy/ Religious)
â— Formation of Formators
â— Clergy Life and Mission
â— Men Religious Life and Mission
â— Women Religious Life and Mission
Goal: Ensuring integrally developed and qualified candidates to the priesthood and religious life and enhancing ongoing formation and life long learning of the priests and religious
Objectives:
â— To promote integral formation (both initial and ongoing) for clergy and religious life
â— To strengthen their lives to their call and identity that they may become living witnesses
â— To promote oneness of priests and religious with the people in the diocese of Pathein
â— To have a greater pastoral involvement in the mission