In 2017, Stephen Van Lal Than was studying at seminary school in Myanmar when he received a call about an opportunity to help serve refugees from his country in the U.S.
There were complications, confusion and struggles to obtain a visa, but Than obliged and accepted the challenges. He set his course for Owensboro, where about 500 refugees from Myanmar have resettled in the past five years.
After three years of seminary studies at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro, Than completed a 12-year process this past week to reportedly become the first person from Myanmar to become an ordained priest in the U.S.
“I never would imagine that I would come here to become ordained,” Than said. “I’m happy and excited I get to do what I am trying to do, to serve the people here in any ways I can.”
Bishop William Medley, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro, helped ordain Than.
“He’s a remarkable individual and extraordinarily generous,” said Medley, who looks forward to observing Than work to connect people from around the world in his new assignment as an assistant pastor at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Bowling Green, where there is a significant population from Myanmar.
Myanmar — formerly named Burma — borders Bangladesh, China and Thailand in Southeast Asia. The country boasts numerous cultures, traditions and religions. The country’s citizens primarily practice Buddhism, but there are minorities of Animism, Christian, Hindu and Islamic faiths.
Due to militant rule and later alleged terrorists — the United Nations accused Myanmar of genocide against Rohingya Muslims in 2018 — many citizens of Myanmar have fled to nearby countries like Thailand and Malaysia in recent decades.
Some of these refugees have resettled to the U.S., which has seen an increase in the Burmese population from 17,000 in 2000 to 168,000 in 2015, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
About 10 years ago, Catholic refugees from Myanmar began to show up at the Diocese of Owensboro, according to Medley, who said their members do their best to welcome anyone into the community and assist with any potential language barriers and housing needs.
In return, the refugees have helped them learn new aspects of their shared religion.
“They show us another facet of Catholicism from another part of the world,” Medley said. “They’ve brought us more gifts than we could ever give back in return.”
Addressing language barriers will be part of Than’s work in his new role — though there will still be language challenges. Burmese is the official language of Myanmar, but the nation is divided into various states with different languages and dialects.
Than, who is Chin, hopes to connect people from the U.S., Myanmar and beyond and help them thrive both as a community and as individuals — addressing their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
“I want to take care of the whole person,” Than said, and “especially to share the love.”
Earlier this month, the Diocese of Owensboro hosted a limited, largely virtual celebration for Than’s official ordaining.
Due to the pandemic and subsequent travel bans, Than’s family in Myanmar had to livestream the event on Facebook from an iPad — as did nearly 6,000 other people, as of late last week.
“They really wanted to be part of this important moment of my life,” said Than, who was the first member of his family to become an ordained priest. “They were all supportive through my whole journey.”
Than is now busy preparing to start at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Bowling Green on June 9.
He’s excited for his new home, peers and work.
“My goal is to be able to provide service,” Than said. “That will be my goal for my whole life.”
