YANGON (UCAN) -- For Catholic laywoman Rose Mary, seeing Buddhist monks and Catholic priests and nuns working together to help Cyclone Nargis survivors was the silver lining of this major disaster.

As executive secretary of Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS), Mary found herself busy training lay volunteers, clergy and Religious to help the survivors within days of the May 2 cyclone.

Initially she was appointed joint secretary of the Myanmar Disaster Relief Committee (MDRC), which the Church set up to coordinate its cyclone relief efforts. Although childhood polio limited her mobility, she traveled, walking stick in hand, to some of the cyclone-affected areas to encourage and support the survivors.

Mary was born on May 13, 1953, in Loikaw, northeastern Myanmar, to ethnic Kayah parents. She says her father encouraged her to always try to do better than other people in spite of her disability. In 1977, she received a degree in geography from the Arts and Science University in Yangon. Later, in 1993, she earned a diploma in "Rural Social Leadership" from the South East Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute of Xavier University, in Cagayan de Oro City, the Philippines.

The laywoman was instrumental in helping set up KMSS with Bishop Sotero Phamo of Loikaw in his diocese, before it became the national social service organization of the Myanmar Catholic Church. KMSS helps with community development programs including projects to help farmers, raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, and improve child care. Bishop Sotero Phamo still chairs the organization.

In addition to her main duties overseeing KMSS social welfare programs, Mary has offered training and workshops locally for clergy and laypeople, and has participated in training programs, seminars and workshops at home and abroad.

UCA News spoke with Mary on Aug. 21 at the KMSS office in Yangon. The interview follows:

UCA NEWS: What difficulties did you face when helping the cyclone survivors?

ROSE MARY: As the extent of the damage was so large, we faced many difficulties, which are hard to express in words. Through our experiences in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, we came to understand the reality of the people and their generosity and kindness. Looking at it as a Christian, or just from a human point of view, I have seen people working together in collaboration and cooperation, and this gives me satisfaction regarding the relief effort. Of course, compared with the loss of life during Cyclone Nargis, our own difficulties seem so small.

Do you view the aid effort as successful?

What has been unforgettable has been the dialogue and joint relief work carried out by people of various religions and races in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. In Dedaye town in the Irrawaddy delta, in order to carry out relief work, a Buddhist monk arranged a room for Catholic nuns to open a clinic for survivors, and he himself distributed relief goods to the disaster victims. A Catholic priest in charge of the refugee camp in Kanazogone village invited a Buddhist monk, who offered a memorial service for those who died during the cyclone. Through religious activities we had mutual understanding and mutual respect.

In Sanchauk camp, although it was run by the Catholic Church, the priest in charge arranged for a Buddhist shrine on a high shelf in the camp, and this is like a beautiful vision for me. In Aima Parish, a Catholic priest and volunteers worked for the survivors without regard for religion and race. Because of the cyclone we have suffered great loss, but from the experience of relief work carried out by interreligious groups and their collaboration and cooperation, we have had great success.

Were there any failures?

As we had no [relief] experience when Cyclone Nargis devastated our country, we did not know what to do. Because of transportation problems, we were only able to travel to the affected delta on May 6, four days after the cyclone struck. The Bishop of Pathein asked me to give training to the volunteers to do relief work for the survivors. We felt very sad because of the delay in the relief work due to bad communications and transportation, and we deeply regret that due to the delay in our relief effort, many lives were lost.

What are the main priorities now for the Church's continuing relief and rehabilitation effort?

Regarding the relief work, we have done our best for the disaster survivors. Rehabilitation, settlement and return to earning a livelihood are the priorities for the people of the affected areas. The survivors are always thinking of the need to work for their livelihood. Instead of continuing to give them support, it is better to help them help themselves, creating work for them or giving equipment or materials that will be useful for their livelihood. As they have been poor their whole life, reconstruction might not be essential for them. Farms and fishing are the most important work for the villagers in the affected areas. [For example] they encountered so many difficulties trying to operate power tillers they received from relief groups that these seem like a burden to them and they just want to use traditional methods.

How did you decide to take up social work?

I had been working for many years as coordinator of youth activities in Loikaw diocese. Our bishop asked me to give training to the youth and work for the development of the Church. We faced many difficulties and obstacles, and since Loikaw diocese is a remote place, we needed many things in order to work for its development. After I worked for seven years with Bishop Sotero Phamo, he asked me to attend development training in the Philippines for one-and-a-half years. After the training I came back to Loikaw and worked for the development of the diocese. Our bishop is a man of knowledge and wisdom. He gave me good advice, instructed me in the work and shared his good ideas for the development of the Church. Doing social work in four parishes in Loikaw diocese, I encountered difficulties dealing with different kinds of people, and we started from a bad situation. We trained people both physically and spiritually.

Karuna was initially organized by Bishop Sotero Phamo and started in Loikaw in 1993, and I was made secretary of Karuna Loikaw. In 1995, the bishop called a meeting and decided to have a Karuna gathering in the Jubilee year 2000 in Loikaw diocese. During this Jubilee year 2000, we discussed and decided to open a national Karuna office in Yangon. Our new office was blessed on the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul (Sept. 27) in 2001, but it was officially opened in 2002.

What does your normal work with Karuna involve?

Catholic laywoman Rose Mary (with crutch), joint secretary of the Myanmar Disaster Relief Committee, talks to priests during a recent workshop.

My normal work is leading the Lenten animation, peace education and community development programs. For the Lenten program, we have translated the formal letters of the pope and conducted a training with reflection before Lent. After the training the participants go back to their diocese and explain the Lenten program theme. The donations collected during the Lenten season aim to help those in great trouble who really need help. Regarding peace education, we have instructed participants to cultivate inner peace in order to acquire the habit of nonviolence, not to do harm and to bring about reconciliation among friends and colleagues. We intend to release an album [of music] regarding peace. Until now we have given community development training five times, producing more than 200 trainee graduates. After completing two months' training, all of them went back to their own places and shared their knowledge and experience with friends, relatives and neighbors.

Was your 15 years of experience in development work useful in the wake of the cyclone?

The damage of Cyclone Nargis was so widespread that it was difficult to do the relief work. We couldn't do it alone, and the Church couldn't do it by itself. We all needed to unite and cooperate. The aid workers needed to have generosity to help the cyclone survivors. The survivors also needed to welcome and cooperate with the aid workers. It will be difficult to help the disaster victims return to normal life. It will take time, maybe years. We can't say we have solved everything for the survivors, but we need to choose priorities.

How important is your Catholic faith in your work and in your life?

I had paralytic polio when I was a child. Since I couldn't walk well, my father used to carry me on his back, and told me not to get discouraged in my daily life. I will never forget my father's encouraging words, "My daughter must be better than any other child." Keeping in mind the words of my father, I have self-confidence and try my best whatever I do in my daily life. God has given me his abundant graces, and I haven't had any difficulties I could not overcome. I have received more chances than others to go to foreign countries related to social work. By the grace of God, I have made it to 55 without any great suffering.

How do you view the role of laywomen in the Church in Myanmar?

The role of laywomen is very important in the Church in Myanmar. The world is changing, and unlike the old days, women now have rights equal to men. In all the dioceses in Myanmar, women have taken greater roles to help the Church and its mission, such as the Women's Association and Mothers' Association.

What is the most memorable event in your life?

When I was asked by Bishop Sotero Phamo, "Do you want to attend training in the Philippines on development programs?" That question made me tremble. The training was offered to people from Southeast Asia and the Pacific. First, I had no idea what he meant. As I had polio, I couldn't imagine attending the training, because I couldn't walk properly. Although I had no experience, no ability for the training, the bishop chose me as a candidate for it. During the training, six of the 6,000 participants [from various countries] were chosen as outstanding students, and I was one of them. The most memorable event in my life was that event, on my 50th birthday in 2003. I was chosen as an outstanding student among 6,000 students.

What are your plans for the future?

As I have been working with development programs for more than 15 years, I would like to hand over my duty or tasks to the next generation. I want to give way to young and active leaders who will work for the development and progress of the Church. After I hand over my duty to the young leaders, I intend to go back to my diocese and teach and share my knowledge and experiences to youngsters, so that they might broaden their vision and understand the importance of education.

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