It is a matter of great joy for me to pen down the message for the magazine which will be

published in 2021 as the commemoration of Fr. Bareigts’ mission to Lautu peng, Mara tlang,
Zotung and Zophei for completing 60 years. At the very outset allow me to thank all the fathers,
catechists, organizing committee and all our well wishers, for undertaking into this noble
endeavor of bringing out the magazine.

Matt. 28: 19-20, says “Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything
that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age. This
beautiful passage reminds us our baptism through which we became the disciples of Jesus Christ,
whose mission we all of us have to take up the commission that Jesus gave to the eleventh
Apostles. Now it is our turn being the disciples of Jesus Christ to bring the message of good
news to the people, one of the best examples for us is Rev. Fr. Bareigts, who proclaimed the
Good News to the people of Lautu, Mara, Zotung and Zophei

Rev. Fr. Bareigts, (A French Roman Catholic Priest) was a good missionary per-excellence. He
was the pioneer of Roman Catholic Mission to Mara land. With a lot of hope and aspiration to
spread the Gospel of the Lord, he set rout his feet towards Mara Tlang on 17 th September, 1965,
reached the village called Lungcawipi, the first time. He was invited by Mr. Hei Mang, who
wanted to enter into the member of eRoman Catholic Church. Fr. Bareigts stayed in Mr. Hei
Mang’s house overnight and ate food what was set before him.

In the year 25th June, 1966, Rev. Fr. Bareigts had a second visit to Lungcawipi village and at that
visit, he preached from the Gospel of John, (3:16), For God so loved the world that He gave His
Son and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. In his first
homily, he mentioned that if you follow the Church of the Lord, you will get eternal life. After
the preaching was over, he baptized some men and entered into the member of Roman Catholic
Church. As I learned from my mother that Fr. Bareigts was not only a good preacher but also a
good singer. He taught devotional songs to the children, men and women in Lautu language, the
meaning of the song is “if you want to get eternal life,
 you have to submit to the Lord”, from Lungcawipi village, the Roman Catholic mission
continued to spread different parts of Mara land such as Ngaphaite village, Phaphe village,
Darling Village. After many years of waiting, parish centre was established in Lungcawipi
village in the year 2002, under the shepherd-ship of Right Rev. Bishop Nicholas Mangthang of
Hahka diocese and the first parish priest was Rev. Fr. David Khin Hmung and after him other
priests have been taking in-charge of the parish to take care of the spiritual needs of the people in
the parish.

Fr. Bareigts was the first Roman Catholic priest to put the seeds that is the words of God in Mara
land as far as the Catholic Mission is concerned. The seeds fell on different type of soils; the
seeds germinated and grew in different levels. Some seeds even died out, some seeds did not
grow, some seeds did not grow properly and some seeds are growing its maximum. It is so hard
the seeds to germinate and grow due to many reasons which we find similar things in the parable
of the sower (Matt.13), but at the same time, I believe in the promise of Jesus that “I will be
always with you till the end of time” (Matt.28:20).And I pray to Jesus Christ that His will be
done upon the people of Mara land through the messengers of the words of God

The prophet Isaiah prophesies, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger
who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation...” (Is. 52:7). After
learning a small piece of knowledge about Fr. Bareigts from my mother, I could perceive and
reflect on the missionary life of Fr. Bareigts that he had the virtues of simplicity, meekness,
humility, flexibility, mortification, and zeal for salvation of souls. How beautiful would be the
feet of Rev. father Bareigts to those who followed his footsteps? He was the blessed priest and
the luckiest person to step into the land of Mara people. He was a model for each one of us to be
a disciple of Jesus Christ. In this junction, I remember all the pioneer missionaries with gratitude
for their dedication, hard work, perseverance and commitment. I salute and appreciate all fathers,
catechists and others, who had a great privilege to bring the Good news to Mara Land, how
beautiful their feet, how generosity and compassion of their hearts, they are prophets to the
people of Mara. I believe that even though they are far way from Mara Land, their hearts and
prayers are still with the people of Mara.

I would like to take this occasion, to thank God for the gifts of the pioneer missionaries those
who worked in Mara Land to bring the people of God under the guidance of the Bishop of Hakha
Diocese for their great zeal for the souls of Mara People. I hope and pray that the Almighty God
may grant Rev. Fr. Bareigts Eternal life for carrying out the mission of the church, commissioned
by Jesus Christ Our Lord to make the disciples of Him to the nations (Myanmar, Chin state,
Mara Land), long-lasting God’s blessing upon the messengers of the Good News and may the
Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for the people of Mara Land always! Amen.