A New Diocese is formed in Myanmar

(May 22, 2010) The Holy Father has erected the Diocese of Kalay (Myanmar) with territory taken by the Diocese of Hakha, making it a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mandalay. The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Felix Lian Khen Thang, Titular Bishop of the Diocese of Fessei and Auxiliary Hakha, as the first Bishop of Kalay. The new diocese of Kalay is situated on the east of the Diocese of Myitkyina and south by the Archdiocese of Mandalay and the Diocese of Haka. The new diocese has 1.3 million population, of which 49thousand are Catholics. It has 20 parishes, 26 diocesan priests, 84 religious, 29 seminarians and 120 catechists. The St Mary’s Church in Kalay will be the cathedral Church