by Gregory

Three weeks after an earthquake devastated Mandalay and central Myanmar, the Church remains close to the faithful and the victims, offering material and spiritual support. While many churches remain unusable, Holy Week is being celebrated in camps for displaced people and in parish halls. Maximilian, a Caritas volunteer, says that despite the destruction and the pain, people support each other in a true experience of rebirth.

For Christians in Myanmar, this is a difficult Easter after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck in late March large areas of the country, already torn by more than four years of civil war.

In Mandalay, one of the most affected areas, "the cathedral was in danger of complete collapse," said Maximilian, a social worker and Caritas volunteer on the front line of the archdiocese's relief operations. “No one has been allowed inside. Even for Palm Sunday, Mass was held in parish halls or near relief camps.”

One church, however, remained standing, St Joseph’s, built with steel reinforcements by missionaries. Although some statues were damaged, the structure withstood the quake. For Maximilian, “It is a symbol of resilience.”

In recent weeks, he brought relief to a dozen villages in Yamethin. Among the ruins, he saw the face of hope. “When I was travelling across different villages with my relief works, especially during the last days of Thingyan (Burmese New Year), I observed people living amid destructions yet find happiness in their own way.”

“People from different religious and ethnic backgrounds can ground their hope in their identities and seem to regain a purpose in life amid all the destructions,” he explained. For this reason, “When I see local people full of hope with new energy, I feel encouraged. I start to believe we can build our lives even though we suffer greatly due to the earthquake and civil war.”

The Caritas volunteer is realistic though. “Of course, we lost many lives and a lot of infrastructure due to this disaster. Our cities are like war-torn areas. Roads are largely destroyed, buildings need to be demolished for they were largely damaged.”

While challenges remain, international agencies and NGOs are relying on Caritas to reach remote places. Unfortunately “Some areas get overlapping aid, while others are left out,” but “We are distributing cash, high-energy biscuits, and rice bags,” he explained.

The government should play the leading role in assistance “but they’re obstructing it instead,” the local activists laments. In fact, in the hours following the earthquake, the military regime never stopped attacking areas hit by the natural disaster, despite a declaration of a ceasefire.

More recently, torrential rains and strong winds have hampered the delivery of aid, flooding camps for displaced people. Nevertheless, people “didn’t let depression take over. They became more polite, more friendly. It's like they knew healing comes through joy and togetherness.”

“With the current challenges,” the volunteer said, “there might have been suicide cases. But Myanmar people are resilient. Displaced people in temporary shelters inside Catholic church compounds were soaking wet due to the flood and rain but they all are helping and encouraging each other,” and “healing themselves.”

In Mandalay, the archdiocese has not only taken on the task of guiding the faithful, but is also coordinating relief operations, even now, three weeks after the earthquake.

“The archbishop is very active in coordinating with different stakeholders and religious groups to maximise humanitarian support.” He “has daily meeting with the emergency response team.”

Priests and nuns continue to walk with the faithful and earthquake victims, offering spiritual assistance, organising meditation sessions, hearing confessions and comforting the displaced.

“Even though most churches are closed, our clergy are leading us through Holy Week in deep, meaningful ways,” he said.

“Relief workers are trying to provide mental help support to disaster victims, while our bishop is leading the flock by conducting Christian meditation sessions in hope of spiritual renewal.”

Still the people of Myanmar seem to have already experienced the resurrection.

To respond to the humanitarian emergency in Myanmar, the PIME Foundation has decided to launch a fundraiser to bring aid to those affected.

Donations can be made to Emergency Aid for Myanmar (10122) by clicking here.

• myanmar
• earthquake
• civil war
• caritas
• volunteer
• maximilian