BurmaLink
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Burma Sunday 23rd February 2025
The BurmaLink Annual Burma Sunday was celebrated on 23rd February 2025. Debbie McGown was invited to speak and she gave a very evocative talk about her many visits to Myanmar (Burma) and her time teaching English in Toungoo. The Toungoo Diocese was inaugurated in 1994 and now has 25 parishes, around 50 priests, nearly 200 Diocesan and lay staff (many unpaid) plus teachers across 2 pre-schools and the English Learning Centre, with more than 24,000 baptized members – there are Sunday School groups, a huge Mother’s Union, Father’s Association and very vibrant youth association. Debbie bought with her a special greeting from the Bishop of Toungoo; “On this Burma Sunday, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with Reverend Graham and St Stephen’s Church. We Myanmar people are struggling for justice and peace. We pray that the military leaders will take into account the desires of the people and will recognize the need for transformation to democracy in the country.” “Father Jimmy (Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral) and Father Andrew at Holy Cross Theological College in Yangon also send greetings for this Burma Sunday service.” The Bishop of Toungoo also sent a prayer: May we continue to pray for peace in Burma; To pray for enlightenment and courage to those in authority; For willingness and bravery to all those who might facilitate a life-saving transition to restore the hope, ambition and faith of the deserving and resilient people of Burma. Amen. We also remembered Joanna Smith who set up BurmaLink in 1989, sadly no longer with us. Attending the service were four former members of BurmaLink, Commander & Lene Walker, Paul Daybell and Mala Tu, who all now live in different parishes. They actively supported BurmaLink by fundraising, hosting Burmese visitors to London and travelling to and around Myanmar together. |
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We have been asked to pray particularly for the people of Kanyut Kween Parish in Myanmar, 300 of whom have been displaced. We pray too for Bishop Saw, trying to keep his flock safe in increasingly troubled times
St. Stephens has been linked to the Anglican Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma) since 1989.
While the Province's diocesan link is with Winchester, our location - between Victoria Station and the Houses of Parliament - has enabled us to be something of a 'London - link' parish for the province.
Our connection is also definitely an 'exchange': we have made three parish visits there and our Vicar has been on a solo visit; and have contributed towards shorter-term funding for Myanmar students when requested.
Through our link with the Anglican Church of the Province of Myanmar, we:
We also try and raise awareness about the country by updating a dedicated notice board, and displaying our Diocesan banners on the pillars in church on special occasions.
St. Stephens has been linked to the Anglican Church of the Province of Myanmar (Burma) since 1989.
While the Province's diocesan link is with Winchester, our location - between Victoria Station and the Houses of Parliament - has enabled us to be something of a 'London - link' parish for the province.
Our connection is also definitely an 'exchange': we have made three parish visits there and our Vicar has been on a solo visit; and have contributed towards shorter-term funding for Myanmar students when requested.
Through our link with the Anglican Church of the Province of Myanmar, we:
- fund an ordinand in training at Holy Cross Theological College, Yangon
- mark a Sunday annually as 'Burma Sunday'
- undertake some modest fundraising
- offer hospitality to visitors from Myanmar to London
- include Myanmar and Myanmar causes regularly in our Sunday intercessions
We also try and raise awareness about the country by updating a dedicated notice board, and displaying our Diocesan banners on the pillars in church on special occasions.
Email received 21st June from Bishop James, the first Ordinand that St. Stephens supported when Joanna set up BurmaLink in the late 1980's
Dear friends,
Greetings from Sittwe. I hope you and all your family are doing well.
Now I am staying at Sittwe Cathedral because traveling is not
safe and there is no regular ferry from Kyautaw to Paletwa. That is
why I am waiting for a UK Visa and travel to Lambeth from Sittwe.
And also coming 24th June is Diocesan's 50th Golden Jubilee,
therefore, we will hold a celebration of Diocesan day next Sunday in
every parish.
Now we have 27th parishes, 70 clergy, 140 catechists and 21500 members
in Sittwe Diocese. And also I will give ordain five priests and four
deacons on 3rd July.
We are trying to open a new parish from mission areas in 2022. Please
pray for us which is not peaceful in my diocese.
I hope that we will see each other again after Lambeth.
Yours brother,
Bishop James Min Dein
Dear friends,
Greetings from Sittwe. I hope you and all your family are doing well.
Now I am staying at Sittwe Cathedral because traveling is not
safe and there is no regular ferry from Kyautaw to Paletwa. That is
why I am waiting for a UK Visa and travel to Lambeth from Sittwe.
And also coming 24th June is Diocesan's 50th Golden Jubilee,
therefore, we will hold a celebration of Diocesan day next Sunday in
every parish.
Now we have 27th parishes, 70 clergy, 140 catechists and 21500 members
in Sittwe Diocese. And also I will give ordain five priests and four
deacons on 3rd July.
We are trying to open a new parish from mission areas in 2022. Please
pray for us which is not peaceful in my diocese.
I hope that we will see each other again after Lambeth.
Yours brother,
Bishop James Min Dein
Email received 15th June 2022
Dear Rev. Graham and sister Mala,
Greetings from Sittwe Diocese.
I do hope you and all friends of St. Stephen are doing well. By the grace of
God, we are also too. I understand you are very busy with Joanna as
well as with His mission.
At the present, we have more difficulty for His ministry and Diocesan
activities because we could not allow for traveling from parish to
parish and village.We have to need a permit from the military
government whenever we visit. But the Church is still growing and more
strongly faith in difficult times, amazing.
And we did not hold any gathering and Diocesan council for the last
two years by Covid -19 and civil wars issue.
Now a young clergyman who is Canon Tun Naing's son and I are looking
after St. Mark Cathedral in Sittwe.As you know, the cathedral was
built in 1880 and consecrated in 1885.
Therefore, it is one of the Heritage Churches in Myanmar as well as
Rakhine State recommended by UNiCCO.
And the vicar house was built in 1970. It was built of wood. Therefore
some parts of the building are very damaged such as the wall, floor
and roof by weather as rain. It is not available in the center of
City. That is why we would like to build new vicar's resistant. As you
know we do not have enough funds to be completed and also the
materials cost is very high at the moment. Therefore, if your Church
will support some funds again for this project, it will be finished
soon.
We are praying for you and your ministry.
Hopefully,
+James Min Dein
Sittwe Diocese
Dear Rev. Graham and sister Mala,
Greetings from Sittwe Diocese.
I do hope you and all friends of St. Stephen are doing well. By the grace of
God, we are also too. I understand you are very busy with Joanna as
well as with His mission.
At the present, we have more difficulty for His ministry and Diocesan
activities because we could not allow for traveling from parish to
parish and village.We have to need a permit from the military
government whenever we visit. But the Church is still growing and more
strongly faith in difficult times, amazing.
And we did not hold any gathering and Diocesan council for the last
two years by Covid -19 and civil wars issue.
Now a young clergyman who is Canon Tun Naing's son and I are looking
after St. Mark Cathedral in Sittwe.As you know, the cathedral was
built in 1880 and consecrated in 1885.
Therefore, it is one of the Heritage Churches in Myanmar as well as
Rakhine State recommended by UNiCCO.
And the vicar house was built in 1970. It was built of wood. Therefore
some parts of the building are very damaged such as the wall, floor
and roof by weather as rain. It is not available in the center of
City. That is why we would like to build new vicar's resistant. As you
know we do not have enough funds to be completed and also the
materials cost is very high at the moment. Therefore, if your Church
will support some funds again for this project, it will be finished
soon.
We are praying for you and your ministry.
Hopefully,
+James Min Dein
Sittwe Diocese
Email from Burma Link church received 23 Feb 2022
Greetings from Sittwe Diocese.
We hope you and your family are doing well. By the grce of God we are getting well.
By the grace of God, we just finished clergy retreat from Rakhine state and Lahmyo region. Unfortunately we could not meet all clergy from Parishes because of Covid and political issues.
Please pray for our sittwe diocese to be serving well during the hard situation as well as Myanmar. And also the Covid 19 virus is increasing day by day in Myamar.
I gave confirmation five young people last Sunday before communion service at Cathedral. And also I gave confirmation three Rakhine people on 16th at St. John, Kyaut Phu. It was a great bless from God. Because the Rakhine people is very hard to be came Christian.
We are trying to build faithful diocese and to open new Parish in 2022.
Love from
+James Min Dein
Greetings from Sittwe Diocese.
We hope you and your family are doing well. By the grce of God we are getting well.
By the grace of God, we just finished clergy retreat from Rakhine state and Lahmyo region. Unfortunately we could not meet all clergy from Parishes because of Covid and political issues.
Please pray for our sittwe diocese to be serving well during the hard situation as well as Myanmar. And also the Covid 19 virus is increasing day by day in Myamar.
I gave confirmation five young people last Sunday before communion service at Cathedral. And also I gave confirmation three Rakhine people on 16th at St. John, Kyaut Phu. It was a great bless from God. Because the Rakhine people is very hard to be came Christian.
We are trying to build faithful diocese and to open new Parish in 2022.
Love from
+James Min Dein
