Villagers help to support lay evangelizers

Even after Loikaw diocese ceased offering financial support to its lay evangelizers, or zetaman, they are still continuing to serve people in remote areas with the support of the villagers they help.

A zetaman conducts a class for children at a church-run nursery school

The zetaman had been receiving a monthly stipend of 10,000 kyats (US$10) from Loikaw diocese when the program started in 1989. The diocese stopped its financial support in early 2008.These trained lay volunteers evangelize and serve Catholics living in remote hilly areas. They run nursery schools, teach catechism and ethics to older children and youths, minister to mix-marriage couples, care for the sick and elderly, and provide spiritual support to all.

Bishop Sotero Phamo of Loikaw says the diocese provided technical and financial support to the zetaman for many years and now he wants local people to provide financial support.

The diocese does not support Religious working in its area either.

However, it still provides new zetaman training in basic health care, child psychology, catechetics and leadership. It also runs an annual refresher course that all zetaman can attend.

Before the stipend was cut, villagers provided rice and other supplies like oil and salt, which could bring a zetaman´s income to the equivalent of 15,000 kyat a month. Currently, only wealthier villages can match this amount, and poor villages might give much less. Meanwhile, inflation has averaged 27 percent annually for the past three years, and the zetaman are feeling the pinch.

Sabina Mueir, 28, who serves in a village in the Phruso parish area, was able to save some money when the diocese offered the stipend but is struggling now to survive on villagers´ support. However, this does not deter her.

“Despite the inability to save, I feel my work is improving,” she told UCA News recently.

She added that hopefully, as villagers realize how hard the zetaman work, they will find ways to offer more support.

Another zetaman teaches children an action-song

Agatina, a zetaman in Mese parish, likewise feels “the development of children´s education is more important than financial support from the diocese.”Unlike Mueir, Agatina does not find her situation more difficult than before.

“There has been no adverse effect on me since the diocese stopped financial support. I welcome the bishop´s idea to make us all self sufficient.”

Villagers say that although supporting the zetaman is a financial burden, they are happy to do so.

U Sureh, 50, from Phruso, admits it is tough for poor villagers like him to look after the zetaman. “But I am happy to do it, because the nursery school is important for the development of the children´s education.”

Another villager, U Joseph, 48, also said he values the volunteers´ work educating children, “so I have no problem supporting the zetaman.

Currently 172 zetaman serve people living in about 190 villages.

Loikaw diocese has so far trained about 800 zetaman. The program started because of a lack of clergy and Religious to serve Catholics in remote areas.