Untitled Document
Untitled Document
Myanmar Catholic Church
CBCM
Untitled Document

Archbishop Paul Grawng

RIP

 
Today, Saturday 24th October, we received the sad news of the death of Archbishop Paul Grawng, who died this morningin Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma) at 6.35 am Irish time. Archbishop Paul was the former Bishop of the diocese of Myitkyina and Emeritus Archbishop of Mandalay.
He was the first Kachin priest ordained to the priesthood and the first Kachin bishop. He succeeded the late Columban Bishop John Howe, from Co Galway as Bishop of Myitkyina. Archbishop Paul was born on March 20, 1939 and was ordained on March 27, 1965. He was installed as Bishop of Myitkyina on July 9, 1976 at which there was great rejoicing. He was transferred to the Archdiocese of Mandalay and installed as Archbishop on June 16, 2003. He received the pallium from the late St John Paul II along with the current Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Bo.
Long association of friendship.
There has been a long association of friendship between the Church in Myanmar, especially the Kachins, and the Missionary Society of St Columban. Fr Pat O'Donoghue, recently returned from Myanmar, in an article in the May - June 2020 issue of the Far East writes: 'It is almost impossible to describe the appreciation and love that Catholic Kachins in Myanmar have for the Columbans'.
I personally can testify to this from two relatively recent visits I had to Mysnmar. I had the pleasure of meeting Archbishop Paul on both occasions in Mandalay and when he visited Ireland in October 2016. He was a very unassuming man and lived very simply.
Myanmar has had a turbulent history.
Archbishop Paul was very aware of levels of poverty experienced by the people. The Church though small numerically has contributed greatly to the integral welfare of the nation, particularly in education, humanitarian services and democratic and cultural values. The people are still suffering.
The Kachin 'adoption' Ceremony
Fr Pat O'Donoghue writes: "One of the Kachin traditions that shows their appreciation in a very 'sacred' way is the 'adoption' of an individual Columban by a Kachin family. It is their way of showing their deep gratitude to Columban Missionaries ( priests, Sisters and Lay Missionaries) who left their own country to be with the Kachin people". This was particularly true of those Columbans who stayed on after 1966 when all Missionaries were expelled from the country. Only those who arrived in Burma befire 1948 were allowed to stay. Some remained on in the country without a break until 1979 when the last three Columbans left".
Return of Columbans to Myanmar
In more recent times a small group of Columbans were able to return, pioneered by the Columban Sisters. They were warmly welcomed by Archbishop Paul in Myitkyina and Mandalay. The Church in Myanmar, small numerically, owes a huge debt of gratitude to Archbishop Paul Grawng. He was very supportive of new initiatives and was deeply loved. He will be sadly missed.
Archbishop Paul will be laid to rest in Myitkyina. Earlier this afternoon I spoke with Columban Sister Kathleen Geaney from Nenagh and stationed in Mandalay. She said that Archbishop Paul had a peaceful death and the people gave him a fitting farewell before his body was transferred to his former diocese of Myitkyina. Srs Kathleen And Teresa, amongst others, were with him when he died. There was a sadness all round but also a deep sense of thanksgiving.
His visits to Dalgan and Ireland.
It was always a pleasure to welcome him to Dalgan whenever he visited. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family, to the Kachin people and to the people of the Archdiocese of Mandalay and the diocese of Myitkyina. Let us pray in thanksgiving for Archbishop Paul, for the Kachin people, for the Church in Myanmar and especially for the Rohingya people who are suffering greatly.
Archbishop Paul will be very pleased that the Columbans will be represented at his Funeral in Myitkyina - by Columban Sr Mary Ita O'Brien, Columbans Eamon Sheridan from Drogheda, Jehoon Augustine Lee from Korea,
Kurt Zion Pala
from the Philippines and
Rafael Ramírez Salazar
from Chile. There are three Columban Lay Missionaries from the Philippines also in Myanmar in the diocese of Banmaw - Michael
Michael Mike Javier
, Lenette Toledo and Lorna Canete.
Posting a few photos taken on the occasion of my visit to Mandalay in late 2019 and of Archbishop Paul's visit to Dalgan in October 2016.
 
Taken from the Facebook of "Pat Raleigh"
https://www.facebook.com/pat.raleigh.3

2020-10-24 22:46:04
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