Diocese of Myitkyina, Myanmar

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Myitkyina / Myitkyinaën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Mandalay

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1939.01.05: Established as Apostolic Prefecture of Bhamo (from Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Burma)
1955.01.01: Became suffragan of Mandalay
1961.02.21: Promoted as Diocese of Myitkyina / Myitkyinaën(sis) (Latin)
2006.08.28: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Banmaw

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.10.29 – ...):

Bishop John Mung-ngawn La Sam, M.F. (51)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Myitkyina (Roman Rite)

Bishop John Mung-ngawn La Sam, M.F. (51)
(2024.10.29 – ...)

Bishop of Myitkyina (Myanmar)

Born:	1973.04.27 (Moe Gok, Myanmar)
Ordained Priest:	2016.01.16
Consecrated Bishop:	2025.01.12

Bishop of Myitkyina (Myanmar) (2024.10.29 – ...)

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B. (76)
(Apostolic Administrator 2020.11.18 – 2024.10.29)

Bishop Francis Daw Tang (78)
(2004.12.03 – 2020.11.18)

Bishop emeritus of Myitkyina (Myanmar)

Peace, love, joy

Born:	1946.12.19 (Maw Gun, Myanmar)
Ordained Priest:	1979.03.15
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.04.11

Priest of Myitkyina (Myanmar) (1979.03.15 – 2002.01.15)

Titular Bishop of Maturba (2002.01.15 – 2004.12.03)

Auxiliary Bishop of Myitkyina (Myanmar) (2002.01.15 – 2004.12.03)

Apostolic Administrator of Myitkyina (Myanmar) (2003.05.24 – 2004.12.03)

Bishop of Myitkyina (Myanmar) (2004.12.03 – 2020.11.18)

Bishop Francis Daw Tang (78)
(Apostolic Administrator 2003.05.24 – 2004.12.03)

Bishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng (later Archbishop)
(1976.12.09 – 2003.05.24)

Deus caritas

Born:	1938.03.20 (Lunghkat, Myanmar)
Ordained Priest:	1965.03.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.04.03
Died:	2020.10.24 (Mandalay, Myanmar † 82)

Titular Bishop of Rusguniæ (1976.01.24 – 1976.12.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Myitkyina (Myanmar) (1976.01.24 – 1976.12.09)

Bishop of Myitkyina (Myanmar) (1976.12.09 – 2003.05.24)

President of Myanmar Catholic Bishops’ Conference (1982 – 1992)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mandalay (Myanmar) (2003.05.24 – 2014.04.03)

President of Myanmar Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2006 – 2012)

Bishop John James Howe, S.S.C.M.E.
(1961.02.21 – 1976.12.09)

Born:	1912.01.20 (Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1936.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1961.07.01
Died:	2000.03.07 († 88)

Prefect Apostolic of Bhamo (Myanmar) (1959.07.18 – 1961.02.21)

Bishop of Myitkyina (Myanmar) (1961.02.21 – 1976.12.09)

Prefects Apostolic of Bhamo (Roman Rite)

Fr. John James Howe, S.S.C.M.E. (later Bishop)
(1959.07.18 – 1961.02.21)

(see above)

Fr. Patrizio Usher, S.S.C.M.E.
(1939.01.07 – 1958)

Died:

1958

Prefect Apostolic of Bhamo (Myanmar) (1939.01.07 – 1958)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Francis Daw Tang (78) (2002.01.15 – 2004.12.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Philip Lasap Za Hawng (79) (1993.12.20 – 1998.04.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng (later Archbishop) (1976.01.24 – 1976.12.09)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Columban’s Cathedral, Myitkyina, Kachin

Banmaw (↙), Kalay (←), Imphal (←), Kohima (←), Miao (↖), Kangding 康定 (↑), Dali 大理 (→), Lashio (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 67,651 km²

Population: 91,055 Catholics (7.5% of 1,206,580 total)

Pastoral Centres: 27 parishes, 33 missions

Personnel: 65 priests (54 diocesan, 11 religious), 184 religious (16 brothers, 168 sisters), 34 seminarians