Falam, Chin State: Despite airstrikes by the Burmese army that razed the Church of Christ the King in Falam earlier this year, Bishop Lucius Hre Kung of Hakha insists that the faith of the local Catholic community remains steadfast.
“They destroyed the walls of the church, but not the faith. Our faith remains strong; the people of God in Falam continue to believe and hope. The faithful will rebuild the Church of Christ the King; everyone will do their part,” Bishop Lucius said during a pastoral visit to the site.
The Church of Christ the King, completed and consecrated in November 2023 to serve approximately 1,000 Catholics in Falam, suffered severe damage when Burmese forces conducted airstrikes following clashes with the Chinland Defense Force (CDF). Father Paulinus G.K. Shing, a local priest, recalled the parish’s dedication to the new church: “It was a very beautiful church, and the parish was happy to take care of it. I hope it can be rebuilt soon. I look with sadness at pictures of priests of the diocese being ordained there.”
Bishop Lucius emphasized the role of prayer amid such trials. “In this moment of suffering and trial, we remain firmly anchored in prayer and united with the Heart of Christ and the Heart of Mary, who take upon themselves all the sufferings of humanity. Jesus and Mary give us the strength and hope to continue and hope for a future of peace,” he said.
The airstrikes also damaged the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Mindat, intended as the future cathedral for the newly established Diocese of Mindat (January 25, 2025). According to the Chin Human Rights Organization, at least 107 religious buildings including 67 churches have been destroyed in Chin State since 2021.
Elsewhere in Myanmar, Catholics face additional threats to sacred spaces. In Taungngu, plans are underway to demolish the Sacred Heart Cathedral and 19 Buddhist temples to facilitate excavation projects in the historic 16th-century city of Toungoo-Ketumati. Local clergy have appealed to the Episcopal Conference of Myanmar to intervene and urge the junta to protect these places of worship.
Even in the face of destruction and displacement, the bishop’s message is clear: the physical church may lie in ruins, but the faith of Myanmar’s Catholics endures, a beacon of hope amid conflict.