THE MISSION UNDER THE OBLATS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (OMV) FROM TURIN, ITALY, 1842-4856
Rev. Candido Paruzza and Carlo Pregno Isola
These were the Rev. C. Paruzza, D. Isola and Spirito Fornelli. The first named Priest was at first stationed in Moulmein, then he proceeded to Bassein, with the intention of learning the Karen language and devoting himself to the mission, among the wild tribes dwelling in the neighborhood of that town. But in 1853, he was ordered to Rangoon, to take charge of the military portion of the Catholic community. He exerted himself a great deal, in building the brick Church of St. John the Baptist, in the cantonments. Owing to a severe illness, he went to Europe for the benefit of his health in 1860, came back in 1862, and was directed to proceed to Thayetmyo, to minister to the spiritual wants of the Catholic soldiers in that station. His delicate health being unable to stand the heat of a tropical climate, he returned finally to Europe in the month of June of the following year, 1863.
Rangoon
In Rangoon things have remained nearly in the same state, as they were, at the departure of Bishop Frederick Cao. After the second Anglo-Burmese war of 1853, Bishop Giovanni Balma (OMV) desiring to come and fix his residence in that city, which was destined to become the capital of British Burmah, laid down in the military cantonments, the foundations of the church of St. John the Baptist, which was left in and unfinished state until the year 1857.
THE MISSION UNDER THE FRENCH PRIESTS OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE FOREIGN MISSIONS (MEP), 1856-1966
Visits Shwegyin, Sittang and Pegu
After a fortnight’s stay at Tonghoo, Bishop Paul Ambrose Bigandet (MEP) came down to Shwegyin and Sittang towns, then with small garrisons on the eastern bank of the Sittang River. He then crossed over the tongue of land separating the Sittang and Pegu Rivers, and reached the old city of Pegu, the former capital of the Kingdom of that name. There he took again passage on board of a boat, and reached Rangoon at the end of February 1857. He thus completed the tour of visitation of the whole mission, including the voyage to and from Bhamo, in six months and a half.
During that period, a mission house had been erected in the town of Rangoon, and on his return, the Bishop, at last, found a place to live in. Likewise a small little chapel had been erected on the ground of St. John, which was absolutely sufficient for the present wants of a small congregation. But what was still more consoling, was the arrival of three young Missionaries from France in October 1856.
St. John the Baptist Church in the cantonments (Rangoon, 1859)
A seopy or Indian soldier at the service of the British, a Tamil and a Burmese in front of the Catholic Church of Rangoon in 1859 built by the Rev. Missionary Candido Paruzza of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary (OMV)
THE SOUTHERN BURMA MISSION
The Missionaries resolve to celebrate in the following year the golden Jubilee of Bishop Paul Ambrose Bigandet (MEP), Bishop of Rangoon
The day for celebrating the Jubilee was fixed for the 7th February 1887. All the Missionaries hastened from their respective placed to Rangoon. It is with feelings of deep gratitude that is recorded here the generous offer of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company to issue tickets for a free passage to all of them, both for coming to Rangoon and returning to their respective stations. A high mass was said in the Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, in the Cantonment. The place was crowded to overflowing. The sermon was preached by the Right Rev. Bishop Gasnier. The tall figure and splendid flowing beard of the orator, riveted on his person the eyes of the whole Congregation; his powerful voice contributed also to secure his hearers’ attention, from the commencement of his sermon to its close.
Centenary of St. John the Baptist Church (1857-1957)