Bishop Medley is vested in traditional Zo clothing during the first Zo American Catholic Annual Retreat in October 2024. COURTESY OF FRANCIS THAWN
First-ever Zo American Catholic retreat held at Holy Spirit; celebrates first approved usage of Mass translated in Zo dialect
BY FR. MARTIN MA NA LING, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green in the Diocese of Owensboro has become a retreat center for Myanmar American Catholics across the United States. It is because of the warm welcome of the local Bishop William F. Medley and the parish itself. It is also because of the unity and peace among the Myanmar Catholics at the parish, even though there are various ethnic tribes of Catholics from Myanmar.
After realizing the need of having a retreat for Zo Catholics (a specific tribe within Myanmar), I talked with our pastor, Fr. Randy Howard, about the possibility of hosting it. There are 54 Zo Catholic families at Holy Spirit within the Myanmar Catholic Community. The Myanmar community is arranged into different prayer groups by tribe/language, and the Zo group is called the St. Joachim Prayer Group. The usage of their dialect still takes the priority for the first generation of Myanmar American Catholics in the U.S., because of most of them do not speak the dominant Myanmar language or English.
A group shot of the lay and clergy participants of the first Zo American Catholic Annual Retreat in October 2024, which was held at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green. COURTESY OF FRANCIS THAWN
From Oct. 11-13, 2024, Holy Spirit Parish held the first Zo American Catholic Annual Retreat, which is organized by Zo Catholic Community (USA) through Fr. Randy Howard’s approval. On Friday evening, a great line of Zo Catholics waited for the arrival of Bishop Medley with Fr. John Paul Mang Sein Yaw, Fr. Mark Ai Meng, Fr. Stephen Van Lal Than, Fr. John Mang and myself. Bishop Medley cut the ribbon and opened the retreat by encouraging all the Zo Catholics and welcoming them in his diocese. The retreat featured confession, singing of Eucharistic songs, and short talks from two priests during Eucharistic Adoration for an hour on Friday night and Sunday night. On Friday night, there were Zo cultural dances, a bible competition, a hymn competition and singing solo Gospel songs as well.
On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., short biblical movies were shown for the children by Esther Lawn Nu. There were four short talks for the youth from Fr. Stephen, Fr. John Paul, and myself. There were also four short talks from Fr. Stephen, Fr. Martin, Fr. John Paul and Martha Winn on Natural Family Planning. Saturday night there was a successful general meeting for all Zo American Catholics to discuss the community’s future.
About 600 Zo Catholics from across the U.S. attended the Holy Mass in the Zo dialect. The main celebrant for the Mass was Fr. Mark Ai Meng, a Zo priest from India, and it was concelebrated by Fr. John Paul Mang Sein Yaw, Fr. Stephen Van Lal Than, Fr. John Mang, and myself.
This retreat was important for Zo Catholics across the world to foster their unity and peace as Catholics. One of the leaders of St. Joachim told Fr. Randy: “We thank you so much for allowing us to do this retreat at the parish. It (makes) history for (all) the Zo people in the world. (Until now) we were not able to do such thing because we are minority.”
Eucharistic Adoration is held on Friday night of the first Zo American Catholic Annual Retreat in October 2024, held at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green. COURTESY OF FRANCIS THAWN
One of the happiest moments for the Zo American Catholics during the retreat was blessing the Zo Catholic lectionary for Sundays and feast days, which was approved by Bishop Felix Lian Khen Thang of the Diocese of Kalay, Myanmar. The lectionary was used during the Holy Mass in the Zo dialect for the first time ever.
The impact of having the retreat is great and effective. Most Zo Catholics attending from across the U.S. shared that they grew closer to God and they felt the presence of Jesus Church during the Eucharistic Adoration and Mass because they heard the Mass in their mother tongue, the Zo dialect. Zo American Catholics across the United States of America appreciate the welcome of Bishop William Medley and his Diocese of Owensboro, and the parish as well for allowing them to have this first annual Zo American Catholic retreat.
Holy Spirit has hosted several retreats for Myanmar Catholics from across the United States. From May 31 to June 2, 2024, the parish also held the 10th Karenni Catholic Annual Retreat & Worship for the first time in the Diocese of Owensboro. It was organized by the Karenni-American Catholic Association, and over 500 Karenni Catholics attended. The annual retreat was opened by Bishop Medley, and welcomed Karenni Catholics not only from across the U.S., but also all over the world, such as Myanmar, Thailand and Canada. Currently, there are 105 Karenni Catholic families at Holy Spirit within the Myanmar Catholic Community. Their group is called the St. Anna Prayer Group.
Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling is the associate pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green, Ky.
Bishop William F. Medley and the priests who participated in the first Zo American Catholic Annual Retreat in October 2024 are recognized with certificates. COURTESY OF FRANCIS THAWN
Originally printed in the December 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
