The MEP in Burma (1856-1966): an overview

Since the seventeenth century, the MEP have multiplied contacts with Burma and attempted multiple times, between 1689 and 1856, to settle in the country. It is only during the second half of the nineteenth century, with Great Britain strengthening its grip on the country, that Catholicism finally starts to successfully expand in Burma. In 1856, the Holy See assigns the evangelisation of the Burman territory to the MEP and places this new apostolic vicariate under the authority of M^gr Paul Bigandet, a true pioneer of the mission. If M^gr Bigandet first looked for a way in through the trade route linking Burma to China in order to penetrate the territory and evangelise it more easily, he finally recentred the focus of the mission on ethnic groups living in the mountains. In 1870, in the wake of the second Anglo-Burman war of 1852 which had split the country, the mission is divided into two apostolic vicariates assigned to the MEP: Southern Burma, with its episcopal see in Rangoon, and Norther, Burma, gravitating around the Mandalay see.

M^gr Bigandet’s death in 1894 and the start of the twentieth century mark a turning point in the MEP activities in Burma. The missionaries take advantage of the medical progresses of the West to give a new impetus to their enterprise, accentuating its social dimension and multiplying charity works and initiatives to facilitate access to healthcare and education.

This same period witnesses many international and local crises due notably to the separatist aspirations of ethnic groups marginalised in the past. These crises lead to the rise of a quite intolerant Buddhism regarding Catholicism. The two world wars only accelerate these trends. The MEP therefore concentrate all their efforts on the training of a local clergy. Little by little, a national Catholic community is built. Thus, in 1954, when the first dioceses of a freshly independent Burma are established, M^gr Joseph U Win is nominated Auxiliary Bishop of Mandalay. In 1966, the prohibition for foreigners who arrived in the country after the independence to renew their visas causes most MEP priests to leave and the definitive transfer of the ecclesiastical offices to the Burmans.

Chronology

1826-1852: conquest of Burma by the British Empire.

1856: the Holy See assigns Burma to the MEP, under the direction of M^gr Paul Bigandet.
M^gr Paul Bigandet is ordained bishop of the “Ava and Bago” mission.
There are nine priests and 4,000 Catholics in Burma.

1870: the mission is divided into two apostolic vicariates assigned to the MEP: Southern Burma and Northern Burma.

1873: M^gr Charles Bourdon is nominated vicar apostolic of Northern Burma.
M^gr Bigandet stays at the head of Southern Burma.

1886: the United Kingdom annexes Burma.
There are only 1,600 Catholics spread across 6 communities in Northern Burma.

1889: P. Freynet establishes the Pauskeinbe post, in an effort to convert the Karens ethnic group living in the mountains.

1891: foundation of a leper house in Mandalay by P. Wehinger, in a new charity impetus given by the MEP to their enterprise.

1894: death of M^gr Bigandet. M^gr Cardot takes his place.
At that time, there are 90 congregants, 36 French missionaries, 11 indigenous priests, 35,000 Catholics, and 155 churches in Southern Burma.
In Northern Burma, there are 22 French missionaries, 3 indigenous priests, 5,000 Catholics, and 32 churches.

1902: foundation of the Yenandaung post by P. Saint-Guily, in an effort to convert the Chins ethnic group living in the plains.

1919: the number of Catholics drops to 25,000 in Burma. Many are mobilised during the Great War, others leave the country, a lot die from the Spanish Plague.

1948: Burma declares its independence.
The MEP deploy their activities in the region inhabited by the North Chins (Kalemyo).

1942-1945: Japanese military occupation of Burma. Many devastations disorganise the parishes of the North and provoke important migrations to the North and to India.

1966: General Ne Win forbids the foreigners arrived after the independence to renew their visas. 28 MEP priests are deported this year.

Learn more

• Histoire de l’Eglise catholique en Birmanie