Myitkyina — They brought hope and spiritual consolation to more than 1,000 internally displaced people living in the St. Teresa refugee camp, described as “the most vulnerable faithful of the Diocese of Myitkyina,” in Myanmar’s Kachin State, a region gripped by civil conflict.
Bishop John Mung Ngawn La Sam, at the head of the Diocese of Myitkyina, together with several priests and consecrated lay Catholics, visited the camp, where the Bishop celebrated Sunday Mass and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to seven adult faithful.
“It was a moment of grace amid the continuing hardships faced by the displaced families,” said the local parish priest, Father Peter Lazum Naw Bawk. He noted that the faithful warmly welcomed the Bishop and his delegation, which also included the head of Caritas .
The pastoral visit, which took place on Sunday, September 20, reflects the Church’s continued commitment to accompanying people affected by displacement, suffering and conflict.
“The faithful at St. Teresa refugee camp were reassured that they have not been forgotten, neither by their pastors nor by God,” the parish priest stressed.
During the Eucharistic celebration, the Bishop told the faithful: “God is always ready to bless us. But God’s blessings flow from a life lived according to His will. We are children of God, but at times we do not live according to God’s will. Beloved children do good works; they are not content with a ‘nominal Christianity,’ but embrace and live a living, concrete faith, bearing witness to it in everyday life.”
“We are not Catholics ‘by birth,’” he warned, “but by doing the will of God and following the commandments of the Lord Jesus. Today we must remember that we are Christians not only in name but in deed, through the works of those who take up their cross and follow the Lord Jesus.”
In difficult circumstances marked by insecurity and precariousness, the Bishop’s visit brought consolation and spiritual comfort to the community. The celebration of Mass and the administration of Confirmation were a significant moment for the seven adults who received the sacrament, strengthening their commitment to the faith.
After Mass, the Bishop and those accompanying him met with the Sisters of St. Paul and the students at a nearby boarding school, offering words of encouragement and support.
As people face uncertainty about their future, the message of the pastoral visit resonated strongly: in a place marked by displacement and loss, hope does not disappear.
The St. Teresa refugee camp currently hosts 480 families of internally displaced people, more than 1,000 people in total, who came from surrounding villages and settled there in March 2025 because of the ongoing conflict in the region.
Kachin State, in northeastern Myanmar, has for years been one of the main theatres of armed conflict in the country. Hostilities between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army , the armed wing of the Kachin Independence Organization, intensified following the military coup of February 2021. The KIA has fought alongside other resistance forces against the military.
In 2026, fighting has been concentrated mainly around Bhamo and Shwegu, while the military has sought to consolidate its positions and reopen communication routes toward the north. According to UN data, by June around 250,000 people had been displaced within Kachin State alone, an increase compared to the previous year.
The humanitarian situation is particularly serious: Military operations, clashes and airstrikes continue to cause new displacement and make access to humanitarian assistance difficult. UNICEF has reported a deterioration of the situation in Kachin, with additional people forced to flee their homes as fighting intensifies, particularly in the areas of Bhamo and Hpakant.
According to the United Nations, nearly 3.8 million people are internally displaced across Myanmar in 2026 as a result of the civil conflict, which has now lasted for more than five years.
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