Myanmar: Easter Vigil celebrated for the first time in 3 years in Loikaw

The Easter Vigil is being celebrated for the first time in three years in the cathedral of Loikaw, in eastern Myanmar. For the local Catholic community, this is a profound source of consolation and a sign of light and hope for the local Catholic community—set against the backdrop of the civil conflict that is tearing the nation apart.

In November 2023, the Christ the King Cathedral complex in the capital of Kayah State was occupied by the army, which used it as a base to fight the resistance forces. The pastoral center was bombed, forcing Bishop Celso Ba Shwe, along with priests, religious, and 80 faithful who had taken refuge in the church, to flee and begin a life in exile, far from the episcopal see.

Since then, the local Church has endured great suffering, and the community has been at risk of dispersing as many churches and parishes in the Diocese of Loikaw were closed due to the absence of the faithful—all of whom had fled into the forests to escape the fighting.