Myanmar (formerly, Burma) is a country bordering Thailand and India. Myanmar is ravaged by a civil war that has lasted almost a century. Several people-groups are being persecuted by a nationalistic movement spearheaded by the military itself.
In its most recent power-grab, the military ousted the democratically elected Su Sang Shi in February of 2021. Attacks on minority villages, although not new, have intensified since then. Several minority groups have been trickling to the USA since the early 2000s, many finding refuge in Minnesota.
Catholics of the Karen people (pronounced kuh-REN) came into contact with our Food Shelf in about 2012. The Brothers realized an important, un-met spiritual need, as well, for they had no parish home or organized support system for their faith.
Besides assisting with food and the immigration system, the Brothers helped find for them a local parish to call home. They organized a Karen Catechism team and began Sacramental formation (and youth ministry now as well).
The seeds of their Catholicism were planted in Burma and Thailand; now those seeds could grow and thrive and multiply here in the USA.
After ordaining our Brother, Father Seraphim Wirth, to the priesthood, Archbishop Hebda assigned him to be the official Chaplain to the Karen Catholic Community. We are especially grateful to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for welcoming the Karen to their east-Saint Paul parishes of St Casimir and St Patrick.
The Brothers are honored to accompany this devoted refugee community. They teach us daily lessons of deep faith, joy, and relationship.
--> Learn more about our early Karen partnership...
...in this 2013 newsmagazine (cover article, p.4)
...and more recently in 2021 (cover article, also p.4)