Faithful Disciples Bl. Isidore Ngei Ko Lat and Bl. Mario Vergara

Isidore Ngei Ko Lat was born in Burma (now ) in 1918 to peasant parents. He was baptized into the Catholic faith on September 7, 1918. After his parents’ untimely death when he was still young, both Isidore and his younger brother were taken care of by their uncle and aunt. From an early age, Isidore expressed an interest in using his life to serve God. He began studying in the seminary and remained there for six years, up until the beginning of World War II. During World War II, Isidore returned to his native village, where he served as a catechist and even opened a small school for the children of his region. In 1936, Fr. Mario Vergara, an Italian , arrived in Burma, which was at the time a British colony. The local bishop in Taungoo assigned Fr. Vergara to the poorest mountain district in the region. He established an orphanage and sanatorium there that housed eighty-two children. When World War II erupted, Fr. Vergara, accused of being a fascist, was interned at a British concentration camp in India for four years. When the war ended, he took a train back through India and eventually back to Burma. By 1946, Fr. Vergara had reestablished his mission post in the mountains. After Burma achieved indepen- dence in 1948, Fr. Vergara met Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, and the two men began collaborating as catechists. The men got caught up in various guerrilla wars between local groups. Some of these rebel groups began to persecute Catholics. When Fr. Vergara and Isidore defied the rebels by speaking up for the poor, they were arrested on May 24, 1950. The next day both were killed, and their bodies, placed in a bag, were thrown into the Salween River. On December 9, 2013, Francis approved the martyrdoms of Isidore and Fr. Vergara, and the two were subsequently beatified. Both men are examples of courage in the face of persecution. Reading Comprehension 1. What did Fr. Mario Vergara and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat have in common? 2. Why was Fr. Vergara taken away from his ministry in Burma for four years? 3. Why were Fr. Vergara and Isidore martyred?

40 The History of the Chapter 9 Writing Task Prayerfully reflect on a religious call you have felt from an early age. In other words, how do you imagine living as a Christian or faithful ? Write three paragraphs explaining your feelings and how you might act on them.

Chapter 9 The History of the Catholic Church 41 Explaining the Faith Do the laity have the same universal call to holiness as the clergy and religious men and women? The Second Vatican Council emphasized that all Catholics, including the laity, share in the same “universal call to holiness.” The Church expects lay people to live lives seeking holiness and righteousness just as much as she expects it of , nuns, and religious brothers and sisters. All of the faithful, in all walks of life, are expected to take seriously the Lord’s call as communicated in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness.” The Second Vatican Council sought to invite Catholics anew to take ever more seriously their universal call to holiness, especially through ministerial roles, the study of Sacred Scripture, involvement in supporting the liturgy in lay roles, and various other ways. It may be difficult for today’s Catholics to find ways to serve the Lord and the Church in their busy lives. However, all Catholics are called to find new ways to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19). These could include volunteer opportunities in the community, leading a Bible study, helping priests to organize retreats, and so forth. Further Research Read Chapter 5, “The Universal Call to Holiness in the Church,” of Lumen Gentium (www.vatican.va). Identify five practical ways you can live out the universal call to holiness.

42 The History of the Catholic Church Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Teacher Resources Faithful Disciples: Bl. Isidore Ngei Ko Lat and Bl. Mario Vergara Reading Comprehension 1. What did Fr. Mario Vergara and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat have in common? These men both served poor children in Burma as catechists in the years surrounding World War II. 2. Why was Fr. Vergara taken away from his ministry in Burma for four years? He was accused of being a fascist and was thus interned at a British concentration camp in India. 3. Why were Fr. Vergara and Isidore martyred? They got caught up in various guerrilla wars between lo- cal rebel groups, some of which began to persecute Catholics. When Fr. Vergara and Isidore defied the rebels by speaking up for the poor, they were arrested and martyred.

Writing Task Prayerfully reflect on a religious call you have felt from an early age. In other words, how do you imagine living as a Christian disciple or faithful servant of God? Write three paragraphs explaining your feelings and how you might act on them. Accept student responses that show evidence of thoughtful and prayerful reflection and that describe the experience of God’s call and the student’s response—both emotional and active—in a way that is authentic as well as clear and well organized. Additional Background Information A very useful source of additional information and news stories related to these men’s lives and is the website AsiaNews (asianews.it/en.html), a news organization associated with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME: Pontificio Istituto Missioni Estere). AsiaNews reports Church news related to Asia and the Middle East in several languages. AsiaNews report on the beatification with further biographical details: “Pope: Fr. Mario Vergara and Isidore Ngei Ko Lat, Martyrs for the Faith in Myanmar, to Become Blessed,” AsiaNews.it, December 9, 2013, www. asianews.it/news-en/Pope:-Fr-Mario-Vergara-and-Isidore-Ngei-Ko-Lat,-martyrs-for-the-faith-in-Myanmar,- to-become-blessed-29763.html Bl. Isidore Ngei Ko Lat is the first Burmese Blessed, truly a sign of hope for the Church in Myanmar: “Arch- bishop of Yangon: Isidore Ngei, Our First Blessed, a Sign of the Pope’s Love for the Church in Burma,” AsiaNews. it, December 10, 2013, www.asianews.it/news-en/Archbishop-of-Yangon:-Isidore-Ngei-,-our-first-Blessed,-a- sign-of-the-Pope%27s-love-for-the-Church-in-Burma-29768.html Fr. Vergara’s missionary work in Burma was through PIME. This institute was founded in 1850 at the urging of Pope Pius IX. More history is available at Pontifico Istituto Missioni Estere, www.pime.org/index.php/ en/2015-10-06-14-48-35/2015-10-06-14-58-12. Fr. Vergara is one of eighteen PIME martyrs.

Chapter 9 The History of the Catholic Church 43 Explaining the Faith Do the laity have the same universal call to holiness as the clergy and religious men and women? Further Research Read Chapter 5, “The Universal Call to Holiness in the Church,” of Lumen Gentium (www.vatican.va). Identify five practical ways you can live out the universal call to holiness.Accept student responses that reflect a sense of practicality while acknowledging the challenge inherent in accepting the universal call to holiness. Students might describe routine prayer practices that particularly fit their day-to-day lives, commitments to be Christlike in their relationships with others, service to the poor, or perhaps intentions to shed distractions or addictions or other weights in their lives—from possessions to vices to relationships—that hold them back from seeking holiness. Additional Background and Resources In 2018, issued an apostolic exhortation on this very topic: Gaudete et Exsultate (On the Call to Holiness in Today’s World). In it, he does the following: • reminds us of the example of the , both those canonized and the “saints next door” who inspire us with their example of lived holiness • encourages growth in holiness through small gestures • criticizes (and describes) two enemies of holiness: contemporary Gnosticism and contemporary Pelagianism • reminds us of the model of holiness Jesus gave in the Beatitudes • holds up several signs of holiness in today’s world, from perseverance to joy to community to prayer • emphasizes the importance of spiritual combat, vigilance, and discernment to withstand the temptations of the devil The document is available atw2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-fran - cesco_esortazione-ap_20180319_gaudete-et-exsultate.html.

44 The History of the Catholic Church Chapter 9