Father Bosco Aung Tun Lay, the Assistant priest for the Parish of Myaungmya, in the diocese of Pathein in Myanmar made Catholic young people under his care overcome their inferiority by reunifying and reorganizing them on June 26.

The event of youth reuniting and reorganization was held at the parish hall in Myaungmya in the morning.

“Due to their inferiority, young people who are living in villages feel alien to youth who are residing in town although they are from the same parish,” said Father Aung Tun Lay.

The priest continues, “They dared not speak to one another before. They did not have any relationship and friendship with one another.”

 “After reuniting and reorganization, young people who joined the event became more friendly and open to one another without inferiority. They feel more confident to talk to one another,” added Father Aung Tun Lay.

They do not feel inferior to relate with one another anymore between themselves and could defeat their inferiority, according to the priest.

The said priest told RVA that the intention of convoking young people in the parish is to reunite them, make them friendly, conquer their inferiority, and participate actively in the parish activities.

Celestine, a Catholic young boy who lives in the village of Phoe Gaung Chaung and participated in the meeting, said, “I feel very happy. Before I did not have any relationship or connection with none of the Catholic young people who are living in the town which is the parish center,” and he continues, “I could not even do anything in front of them like dance performance, singing, etc. because I was afraid of them. Now, I become very friendly with them, and no more alienation from them.”

The young girl Goreti Poe Lay said, “I am glad for being elected as a new executive member in the youth community. But I worry that my fellow young people will not have mutual understanding and respect because they are the same age as me.”

“There is no inferiority among us. We can relate to one another more friendly and closer than before,” said Poe Lay.

Celestine and Goretti Poe Lay on behalf of the youth community are grateful to Father Bosco Aung Tun Lay for his great effort in making young people more confident to have friendships and relationships with one another.

One hundred and forty-four young people in the parish of Myaungmya participated in the event for youth reuniting and reorganization.

Father Bosco Aung Tun Lay informed that 35 young people in the parish of Myaungmya are currently taking training on playing music and electric organ under his care.

There are one thousand two hundred and thirty-nine (1239) Catholic households with five thousand four hundred and nineteen (5419) parishioners in the parish of Myaungmya.

Foreign missionaries started God’s and Church’s missions at Myaungmya on March 19, 1848. The last foreign missionary was Father Martin Narbitz (MEP), who was a French and came to Myaungmya in 1947.

The present parish priest of Myaungmya is Father Wilfred Myint Soe with two assistant priests who are Father Bosco Aung Tun Lay and Father Gabriel Kyaw Thuya.