Catholic priests in the Diocese of Pathein in the Ayeyarwaddy Region of Myanmar donated their former English educator Lucius Mahn Pa Naing on October 18 at his house in Kanyinsaing parish.

Father Robert Nya Lin who is one of the collectors and currently an assistant priest and in charge of the boarding school of the parish said, “We donated some amount of money to our former English teacher who gets older. Through our donation, he may realize that God gives him back for his generous service and love.”

Father Nyan Lin added “Teacher Mahn Pa Naing does not expect our donation. That is why he feels either joyful or sorry, and he said, “I am the one who must donate you.”

The former educator is over 76 years old now and lives in Kanyinsaing village, and has four sons and one daughter. The two sons and daughter already got married whereas the youngest two sons are still single.

“Although they become priests, they do not forget the gratitude of their teacher. I am very pleased,” remarked Mahn Pa Naing.

Teacher Lucius Mahn Pa Naing taught the English language to the seminarians in the Sacred Heart Minor and Intermediate Seminary in the Diocese of Pathein from 1998 to 2017 as the second period, and from 1973 to 1976 as the first time.

The priests who took English classes from Mahn Pa Naing were 35 in number according to the lists. But there still are many seminarians who are currently studying philosophy in Pyin Oo Lwin in the Region of Mandalay and theology in Yangon.

At least thirty thousand Kyats were collected from an individual priest. The total amount received from the collection is 1325000 Kyats (about USD 650).

 From the collection of money, a big bag of rice, five Vises of cooking oil, and 10 lakhs in cash were donated to the teacher.

The priest of St. Peter’s Cathedral parish Father Felix Soe Win commented, “It is good that they went and donated. Good because they received education from him.”

He continues by saying, “The teacher took care of and educated them as much as he could with the knowledge he acquired, and it is a grace for they became priests. It is a good traditional act that they did.”

“The situation of the said teacher gets worse due to his declining age. His wife is also very sickly. The teacher is happy when getting the collection. He can spend it for his wife’s illness,” said Father Soe Win.”

 News writer-Raymond Mahn Kyaw