Sr Ann is a Sister of St Francis Xavier and a trained nurse. After the military coup in Myanmar, she confronted police who were targeting young people and became a global icon.
Sr Ann bravely shared her story with Missio recently: ‘The police chased and shot at demonstrators. Most of them were children and teenagers. They were hiding in our clinic.
‘I wanted to save their lives. That’s why I knelt down in front of the police officers. “Don’t shoot the young people,” I begged them. “They’re unarmed. If you have to kill, shoot me.”
‘The first time, on 28 February 2021, police officers ordered me to move out of the way. They said, “If you don’t leave, we’ll shoot you.” But I stayed, and they left.
‘On 8 March 2021, I saw police beating, arresting and shooting young people. I ran into the street, knelt before them, and said, “Please don’t shoot the young people.”
‘They shouted at me, “Go away!” But they stopped shooting. Two hours later, the military arrived. They shot the young man in the head right in front of me. I was shocked. Two people were shot hat day. Many were injured.
‘I wanted to save the lives of young people in trouble. I believed that God was using me to save lives. God gives me strength and courage.’
Sr Ann comes from a large family in Myanmar. She remembers her childhood when everyone in her village had to flee from their homes due to the military driving them out. She recalls leaving everything behind while some of her neighbours were killed and others arrested.
She explains: ‘Ever since I was young, whenever I see people wearing uniforms of policemen and soldiers, I’m afraid of them. This is because they killed the innocent people. They burned the villages.’
Sadly, for her own protection, Sr Ann had to leave Myanmar but she continues to pray for her people: ‘I hope that, with the grace of God, we will soon become a peaceful and happy country. Please help the people of Myanmar who are suffering. Please pray for Myanmar.’
How You Can Help
The brave missionaries on the ground in some of the world’s most desperate situations need our support to continue their vital ministry. Your prayers and donations will make a real difference to them and to the people they strive to show Christ’s love to every day.
- Your donation helps missionaries provide food, medicine, shelter, and hope to some of our poorest sisters and brothers around the world.
- By sharing our World Mission Sunday Appeal with your parish, you are a missionary of hope – reaching out with hope and help and igniting God’s love around the world.
- By praying for missionaries and the communities they serve, you are reaching out with spiritual support, solidarity and hope.
Thank you for being part of God’s global mission!
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