Historical Sketch of Pathein Diocese

The Diocese of Pathein (formerly known as Bassein) is located in Ayeyawady Region serving the Poe Karen in Pathein and Myaungmya Missions and the Sakaw Karen around Hinthada Mission. The early Missionaries in this Southwest part of the country were the Oblates of Mary Immaculate delegated from Rome. Then the Society of Foreign Mission Paris came taking up the mission from three centers: Kanazogone, Maryland and Bassein and the Church started growing steadily and successfully. Geographically in a flat region, the area of the diocese is 25,328 square kilometer with total catholic populations 71,490 (2010 statistic) and the majority of the catholics are from Kayin tribal group.

Together with the appearance of European Countries’ merchandizing, Portuguese adventurers and merchants arrived in Myanmar during the latter part of the 16^th century and the whole of the 17^th century. According to Burmese History there was no doubt about some Portuguese mercenaries who served Myanmar Kings and Dukes in the year 1556s and their descendants settled at Dacca, Chittagong, Pegu and Ava including Bassein (former name of Pathein). In the 18^th century, some European merchants and navigators were found established in Bassein, on the bank of the river at the southern extremity. At that time, Rev. Fr. Barnabite from Rangoon visited Bassein at least once a year for the special object of ministering to the spiritual needs of the small Catholic Community.   

Msgr. Federico Cao, member of the Order of Pious School was elected by Pope Pius VII for the succession to the Apostolic Vicariate of Ava and Pegu on 15^th June 1830. Bishop Federico Cao arrived Myanmar in 1831 accompanied by Fr. Domingo Tarolly, secular priest from Italy – Turin and Fr. Antonio Ricca, an Augustinian Friar of Genoa. In 1839, Fr. Giuseppe Enrici, the first Oblate of Turin to arrive Myanmar died in Mon Hla (in the Archdiocese of Mandalay) in Upper Myanmar. Three years later the Catholic Mission of the whole of Upper and Lower Myanmar was confided to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate of Turin by Pope Gregory XVI. Faustino Ceretti was consecrated Bishop of Myanmar at Rome and set out for Myanmar with five Oblate Missionaries: Fr. Domenico Delprino, Fr. Carlo Pacchiotto, Fr. Ferdinando Andreino, Fr. Giacomo Pagolotti and Fr. Vincenzo Gabuti. The last two were deacons ordained in Amarapura by Bishop Ceretti in September 1843.

Italian Missionary Priests Fr. Domingo Tarolly and Fr. Dominico with the permission of King Ava arrived at Bassein in the year 1844 for the propagation of faith especially to the Karen people. Bishop Federico Cao laid the foundation of the Mission at Bassein with the help of Fr. D. Tarolly and Fr. Ricca. In 1846, Fr. Tarolly and Fr. Pagolotti of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate started the Mission at Myaungmya. In 1852, after the Anglo-Burma War II, the churches were repaired and the Missions flourished once again. In 1856, the Catholic Mission of Myanmar was taken over by the Society of the Foreign Missions at Paris under the able direction of Bishop Ambrose Bigandet. At that time, Fr. Vincenzo Gabutti was in charge of Pathein. Fr. M. Lacrampe started the Mission at Kanazokone and Fr. Naude was the father of Maryland Mission. The effort of the Catholic Mission was blessed and continued to grow under the Missionary activities of the Society of the Foreign Missions at Paris for the next hundred years.

On the arrival of Fr. George D’Cruz to Bassein, he started the printing press for the Karens and also the erection of St. Peter’s Cathedral was started in the year 1872. Fr. Provost continued for the completion of Cathedral construction including belfry in the year 1921. In 1954, the Diocese of Pathein was erected, when His Holiness Pope Pius XII established the Catholic Hierarchy in Burma. Rev. Fr. George U Kyaw, a Karen, was consecrated and appointed as the first indigenous Bishop of Pathein. In 1968, Rev. Fr. Joseph Mahn Erie was elected as the second Bishop of Pathein. In 1985, Bishop Sequeira succeeded as the third Bishop of Pathein. In 1992, Bishop John Gabriel was installed as the fourth Bishop of Pathein. In 1994, Msgr. Paulinus was elected as the Vicar Capitular of the Diocese of Pathein. In 1996, Bishop Charles Bo, S.D.B was elected as Bishop of Pathein and installed on August 25 in the same year. The former Rector of the National Catholic Major Seminary, Theologate, Fr. John Hsane Hgyi, consecrated bishop of Pathein on 22^nd of March 2003 by the apostolic Delegate Adriano Bernadini, was officially enthroned as Ordinary of Pathein Diocese on Sunday the 24 August at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Pathein.