Letter from Myanmar from Fr Mark Raper SJ

.Mark grew up in our parish, went to Riverview, has been a Jesuit for 64 years

Dear Friends,

Peace. The catastrophic Sagaing earthquake of 28 March took thousands of lives and destroyed the homes and hopes of tens of thousands more.  No Jesuits were hurt in the earthquake and the families of all are safe as far as we know. One of our teachers, Rita Aung, a music teacher for Campion Institute was on a two-day excursion to Mandalay and perished in a collapsed building.  A great friend of the Myanmar Jesuits, Dr Robyn Chan, who died last year, and brother of Wilfred Chan SJ of the Chinese Province, had visited us frequently on his way to Sagaing where as a surgeon, he trained dozens of young surgeons and nurses.  That hospital is now in rubble, along with 80% of Sagaing township. Ironically Sagaing, the epicentre of the earthquake, is also the centre of the most intensive conflict. The earthquake struck on a Friday at 12.50, a time when many Muslims were at prayer. Many mosques, some built in the 19th century, crumbled, crushing hundreds.

At the time of the quake, I was outside Myanmar and on my way to a workshop with members of the Development team for Myanmar Region. Most of our time these past few days has been given to strengthening our capacity to respond to the latest disaster.  Jesuits are already engaged with local communities in both Sagaing and Taungoo following recent flooding.  They are in position to give attention immediately to the earthquake victims. Similarly, we have a strong ongoing presence in Taunggyi with the novitiate, the Jesuit Candidates and a college, SAG.  Teams from there have swung into action to accompany affected communities in the nearby areas, such as Inlay Lake and Nyaungshwe and Kalaw.

It is not easy for the people of Myanmar to retain hope. This latest catastrophe compounds the suffering already experienced of an army that wages war against its own people and so displaces millions.  To take the tiny Catholic Church alone, even before the earthquake, four bishops are refugees, their cathedrals either bombed, burnt or occupied by military.

Over the last three years, ten Jesuit priests have been ordained for the Myanmar Region. They are mature, well-motivated and ready to offer human and pastoral support to the people affected by this chaos.  Pray that they will be well-deployed and kept safe as they accompany and listen to the people.

Thank you to all for your kindness, concern and for any practical help sent through Jesuit Mission Australia.  

Mark Raper SJ, Yangon, 8 April 2025