19 December
Vice President U Henry Van Thio and wife Dr Shwe Hluan attended a Christmas dinner at Myanmar International Convention Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Firstly, Rev Dr Aye Min, Chairman of the Myanmar Evangelical Christian Alliance (MECA) said prayers.
Next, MECA General-Secretary Rev Dr Maurice Hlyan Nar delivered the welcoming speech and Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko then gave the Christmas speech.
This was followed by Archbishop Steven Than Myint Oo, Chairman of the Myanmar Council of Churches, extending good wishes to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, leaders of the country and the people.
Next, Rev U No No of the Myanmar Christian Propagation Cooperative Federation, MECA’s Rev U Myo Win and Father Lucus Suan Za Lian of the Federation of Myanmar Catholic Bishops read passages from the Bible.
Next, Father John Saw Yaw Han, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Yangon, gave a short sermon on Christmas and the General-Secretary of the Myanmar Council of Churches’ Rev Mahn Par Mar Stan spoke words of thanks.
Next, John Mahn Hsane Hgyi of the Federation of Myanmar Catholic Bishop handed over a Christmas present to the Vice President on behalf of all the Christian entities, and they in turn received Christmas presents handed by Union Minister Thura U Aung Ko.
Vice President U Henry Van Thio then took a documentary photo with the guests, Myanmar Council of Churches Vice-Chairman Bishop U Myat San speaking words of gratitude, and all the guests then sang a hymn.
Afterwards, Myanmar Christian Propagation Cooperative Federation Chairman Rev U Aung Thet Nyunt said prayers and closed the ceremony, after which the all the invited guests enjoyed the dinner together.
The dinner was attended by Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker U T Khun Myat and wife Daw Yin May, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than and wife Daw Nant Kyin Kyi, Union Constitutional Tribunal (UCT) Chairman U Myo Nyunt and wife Daw Htay Yi, Union Election Commission (UEC) Chairman U Hla Thein and wife Daw Aye Thida, Amyotha Hluttaw Deputy Speaker U Aye Tha Aung and wife Daw Thein Yin Chay, Union Ministers, the Union Attorney-General, Union Auditor-General, Union Civil Service Board (UCSB) Chairman, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairman, UCT members, UEC members, Deputy Ministers and their wives, UCSB members, permanent secretaries, directors-general, bishops, pastors, representatives of Christian churches, invited guests and other officials.—MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
