Parish Honors Visiting Burmese Bishop, Priest
By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer | Published October 11, 2012
On Saturday, Sept. 8, close to 300 people, most from Holy Cross Church, Atlanta, attended a reception given for Bishop Felix Lian Khen Thang, of Kalay, Myanmar, and Father Damian Zam Sian Dal.
With songs and dancing from native people of Myanmar, the reception was provided by the Zomi Catholic Family in Atlanta (ZCFA).
The cultural show featured dancing and songs of the native people indigenous to an area along the border between India and Burma. Bishop Felix’s diocese is in the northern part of Chin State and the western part of Sagaing Division. The bishop is visiting a dozen cities in the United States to visit with groups of Zomi from his diocese.
Some 60 families who are members of ZCFA attend Holy Cross. At the present time a Mass in their language is celebrated at 3:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month. Father Fausto Marquez is assisted in the readings and pronunciation by Simon Lian, a leader of the organization.
The community is also looking for assistance. Lian asks anyone in the Holy Cross community who could assist with legal issues or job offers to contact him at simonlamno@gmail.com or (404) 287-4124.