People from 31 countries joined an online prayer vigil to pray in solidarity with the people of Myanmar who continue to endure unimaginable suffering caused by war, displacement and natural disaster. Source: Jesuit Mission Australia.
The Light in the Darkness: Global Prayer Vigil brought together voices from every continent, including a participant from Antarctica.
The online vigil was led by Helen Forde, chief executive of Jesuit Mission Australia, alongside Br Ghislain of the Taizé Community, and featured deeply moving testimonies from those affected by the crisis in Myanmar.
Through Taizé music, scripture, and shared prayer, the vigil offered a space of compassion and reflection in the face of immense suffering.
“This vigil has shown the profound power of united prayer and global solidarity. I am deeply grateful to everyone who joined us – from every corner of the world – to lift up our shared hope, to stand with those who are suffering, and to renew our collective call for peace,” Ms Forde said.
One testimony recalled a heartbreaking encounter: “Last month, I met an eight-year-old girl who had fled conflict with her family, arriving just days before the earthquake. On March 28, the building collapsed and her best friend and her friend’s parents lost their lives. She doesn’t fully understand why.
“She just knows her friend is no longer there to laugh with, to play with, to dream with. She told us she looks at the night sky and says the three twinkling stars are her friend and her friend’s parents. She prays they are in heaven.
“Now, in a place far from home, she holds onto one dream: to return to her village. She wants to learn. She wants to play. She wants to live in peace. She is just a child, but her heart carries a prayer for a better world.”
Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar has become one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian crises, with over 3.5 million people displaced and nearly 20 million in need of emergency aid.
Jesuit Mission’s partners are working in affected communities, offering vital support and spiritual care.
The Prayer Vigil was recorded and is available online.
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All seven continents unite in prayer for Myanmar (Jesuit Mission Australia)
