Thanksgiving ceremony: SAC VC attended thanksgiving ceremony for the Christmas

The thanksgiving ceremony to mark Christmas Day, which was jointly organized by the Myanmar Council of Churches, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Myanmar Evangelical Christian Alliance and the Myanmar Christian Mission Cooperation, took place at Holy Cathedral Church at the corner of Bogyoke Aung San Road and Ba Aung Kyaw Street in Botahtaung Township in the evening on December 23, attended by Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice Senior General Soe Win.Also present at the ceremony were Daw Than Than Nwe, wife of Vice Senior General, member of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Defense Admiral Tin Aung San and wife, Union ministers and wives and officials.

At first, Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon Catholic Archdiocese, and bishops welcomed the Vice Senior General and party.

Next, the ceremony was held at the St. Mary’s Cathedral and Archbishop U Myat Hsan said opening prayer and auxiliary bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye extended words of greeting and a religious song sung in unison.

Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister said that in Myanmar, since in the past, in the tenures of consecutive governments, regarding with the religion, followers of each religion entitle the freedom of religion in accordance with the specified rules and regulations. According to Sub-Section (d) of Section-354 in Chapter-8 of 2008 Constitution, “to develop their language, literature, culture they cherish, religion theyprofess, and customs without prejudice to the relations between onenational race and another or among national races and to other faiths” and Section (362) “The Union also recognizes Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Animism as the religionsexisting in the Union at the day of the coming into operation of this Constitution”. In those provisions, the right of religious freedom for an individual follower or entire followers of each religion has been obviously described.

Next, the praising of Christ included in Chapter-1, verse 23 of Matthew Gospel and Chapter-2 verses 13 and 14 of the Gospel of Luke were discussed. And he said that the religious missionary persons of Archbishop, Bishop, Reverends and Nuns including Cardinal Charles Bo are requested to pray to the God to send compassion to the individual human beings, having stability of the earth on behalf of the followers.The loving-kindness is sent from individual person and family to the whole society, entire country and the whole world.

Then, the singers praised the virtues, Rev.D U Aye Min read the bible, the Archbishop Steven Thant Myint Oo made special praying, (CBCM) Nun Sister Mai Dorin read a bible and sung the Christmas songs.

Cardinal Charles Bo prayed for allhave genuine peace and Myanmar people to enjoy physical and mental well-being as well as peace, prosperity and happiness.

Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop Steven Than Myint Oo presented a Christmas gift to the SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister and wife who returned fruit basket and commodities manufactured by the Tatmadaw factories as the Christmas gift.

Next, the SAC member Admiral Tin Aung San and wife and Archbishop U Myat Hsan and auxiliary bishop Noel Saw Naw Aye exchanged the Christmas gifts.

Then, SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister and party had a fellows’ Christmas dinner hosted by the Myanmar Council of Churches, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Myanmar Evangelical Christian Alliance and the Myanmar Christian Mission Cooperation together.