Missionary Society of St. Columban - Christmas With Myanmar's Monks

Every Christmas, the bishop of Myitkyina in northern Myanmar (formerly Burma) invites Buddhist monks to a meal in the diocesan priests’ house.

The bishop does not worry about which monks he should invite or what he should serve; those details are handled by the military government’s Department of Culture, which oversees Buddhist affairs. The bishop simply informs the government of his intention. It also collects the cost of the meal from the bishop and makes all the arrangements.

I was privileged to be present when Bishop Francis Daw Tang sent out his annual invitation in 2004. The occasion turned out to be not only a meeting of faiths, but also a profoundly human encounter.

Columban Father John Colgan (center) spoke with Buddhist
monks through a priest interpreter (to his left) during
Christmas dinner in Myitkyina, Myanmar.

On the appointed day, government officials arrived to oversee the event with cooks and helpers who prepared the meal. They laid out three large round tables covered with many kinds of dishes and—I could not help but notice—a plateful of cigarettes.

The monks in their cinnamon-colored robes arrived in cars driven by civilians. After the welcome, the guests were ushered into the dining area where they squatted on cushions around the low tables.

What seemed strange was that the monks ate alone and only when they finished were the priests given the nod to join them for after-dinner chat. I was happy to have a few words with them through an interpreter.

The oldest monk was 80 and was enjoying the attention his age gave him. His companions appeared delighted with the visit.

We smiled a lot and nodded as many local priest friends translated questions and answers. Our conversation didn’t probe into religious depths, but did reveal that our convictions were founded on the ancient and sacred value of respect.

The meal finished before noon because monks of Teravada Buddhism aren’t allowed to eat after midday. Normally, by 8:30 a.m. you see them along the street led by a child monk beating a triangle to announce their presence.

Each monk carries his begging bowl for a gift of food for the day’s main meal. Every monk has his benefactors who, as a religious meritorious duty, take care of his daily needs. The system seems to work well but monks in the city may have to travel by whatever means they can to get where their benefactors live.

Bishop Francis’s meal must have been a pleasant break in their daily routine. Everyone was in good spirits when the guests lined up with the priests for group photos before the monks returned to their monasteries. They returned by the same cars that brought them.

Christmas would come again in a year.

Pray For Myanmar
Columban missionaries ask you to remember the Buddhist monks and the Burmese people in your prayers this Christmas. We pray that 2008 will see their desire for democratic reforms in Myanmar realized and the end of Myanmar’s military junta that oppresses its people.