Secretary-1 respect-paying ceremony for parents held

YANGON, 3 Aug - State Peace and Development Council Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt attended the 14th respect-paying ceremony for parents, organized by the University of Catholic Youth Apostolate (Yangon), held at the Traders Hotel on Sule Pagoda Road at 6 pm today.

First, Secretary of UCYA (Yangon) Bosco Yan Naing Soe said prayers on the occasion.

Next, Chairman Ma Judith Zelsankyin read out the message sent to the parents.

Then, Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt made a speech. He said:

It is an auspicious occasion because in accord with the teachings of Christianity, knowing the attributes of parents and paying respects to them every year is following the noble tradition.

In the Ten Commandments, which is accepted as the highest practice of Christianity given by the God, the fourth one states that revere thy parents.

In Christian literature, there always include the teachings to revere parents and follow their teachings.
It is sure that with the following of religious teachings, members of Catholic Youth Apostolate will become dutiful citizens and the ones who can serve the interests of human society. Member youths of the Catholic Youth Apostolate are the honourable ones because they are undertaking the tasks leading the other youths to revere the parents, to follow the teachings of parents to become polite and obedient ones, to avoid evil doings by devoting their religion and to raise the morale of youths.

In Myanmar tradition also, it is said that the gratitude of the parent is greater than the Myintmo Mountain and the parents are the first ever teachers of their children and they are paid respects as one of the Five Benefactors.

As Myanmar society is based on families, the parents who lead the family can serve the interests of society through their children.

If the parents guide their children to be polite, to become dutiful ones of society, to be educated, to live and act according to the teachings of their faith and to be filled with physical and mental power, there will emerge good sons and daughters who will bring about the development of the nation and the race.

With an increase in such good families, the nation led by good leaders will emerge.

Therefore, the teachings of parents for their children to love and cherish the nation and the race, to be faithful to the country, to abide by the laws and rules and regulations of the State together with religious teachings, to forge unity, equility and freedom are not only in conformity with the religious teachings but also amount to enhancing the prestige of the nation and the race. Sons and daughters, on their part, are to respond the parents through their love and reverence for them, following their teachings and looking after the aged parents.

All the religions guide that a person who serve his or her parents will be blessed with long life, wealth, free from blemish and danger.

In real life also, serving one's own parents will lead to the unity of the family and will vitalize the spirit of positive attitude that contributes to prosperity of human society among the youths.

All the religions guide the youths to possess good morale, to practice noble deeds and to strictly follow the teachings of older persons and parents. Living under the love of parents gives a great calm which cannot be compared with anything.

Therefore, no matter what the religion is, the youth who follows the teachings of his or her own religious teachings will become the dutiful ones, the ones who possess good morale, who have the strong desire to serve the interest of the nation and who favour the prosperity of the nation.

I would like to urge the Christian youth present here to realize the right and wrong of destructive and constructive attitudes and strive for national development, prosperity of the nation and filling the Union with love in accord with the noble teachings of the religion.

The government is at present making strenuous efforts for the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation and for enabling the national brethren residing in the Union to strive hand in hand in amity in the interests of the State and the people.

The Union of Myanmar is like a family.

The national brethren who reside in the Union are of a family regardless of race and religion, and the government is like their parent.

If members of the family live in unity and amity sharing weal and woe under the shade of the parents, there will emerge a family enjoying peace and happiness.

If such conditions can be created, the ill intention of foreign nations will surely fade away.

This being the case, the nurturing of youths by the Catholic Youth Apostolate in line with the noble teachings of the religion is of great help in ensuring the emergence of a peaceful, modern and developed nation and in realizing the national objectives.

He wished the Christian youths to be able to serve the interests of the State and the people hand in hand with youths of other religions while preserving the fine traditions of paying respects to the parents annually.

In conclusion, he wished the well-being of the parents and all the people in the whole country. He urged them to observe the teachings of their faiths, parents and teachers and to strive for flouring of noble teachings and to build a peaceful developed nation through happy families under the correct leadership of the parents.

The chairman of the Catholic Youth Apostolate (Yangon) presented gifts to the Secretary-1 and party.

Afterwards, Bishop Edin David spoke words of thanks. The youths, who won the prizes in the song competitions to honour the parents, sang songs.

After the ceremony, the Secretary-1 cordially greeted those present.

Present on the occasion were Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, the Yangon mayor, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, ambassadors of foreign embassies in Yangon, resident representatives of UN agencies, invited parents and guests, the chairman of University of Catholic Youth Apostolate (Yangon) and executive committee members and students of University of Catholic.