I am Gregory Saw Po Gray (Saw Tin Ngwe).

I was born in a village called ‘Pawa’, Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar (Burma) on 5/10/1976.

I belong to the Diocese of Mawlamyine.

My father was a catechist and my mother was a house-keeper. I have five sisters and I am the second oldest in the family - I should add that I am the only boy among the siblings.

Why do I want to become a priest?

I can remember that the priest and his followers visited my village once a year when I was young. When I saw a priest, I wanted to wear a long white cloth (because in Myanmar priests are allowed to wear white soutanes) like him. Moreover, I realized that people from the village cooked good curries for the priest and his people when they visited the village. People from the whole village gathered at the village church and prayed together. In my heart I thought that there must be some thing special about priests: wanting to eat good curries was a superficial motivation.

When I got a bit older I had more chances to go along with my father when he went and prayed for the sick in my village. He also buried the dead because my village is so far from where the parish priest stays and transportation is difficult. I well remember my father saying prayers as a person was dying. I know well what could be done for the dying if a priest were present to hear confession and administer the last rites: every person who died in my village could be buried by a priest.

When I finished my primary schooling, my parish priest, Fr. Bruno Philip (he is still the parish priest), and my father sent me to Yangon Minor Seminary. One thing which came to my mind at that time was that I must now become a priest: if I were to leave the seminary it would be a disgrace to my family, my parish priest and my village. I tried my very best to pass all my exams and not to break any rules.

I must mention one thing concerning my vocation which ocurred while I was in the seminary. Every year priests came for their annual retreat. When my parish priest arrived, he brought me a letter from my father. In my entire life that was the only time my father wrote to me. In his letter he said, “I am getting old my son and I have done my part. The future depends on you, my son. You must try hard so that you can do more than me.” Those words of encouragement always stay with me. Even now that he has passed away, his words will never pass away.

Now I can clearly see what God has prepared for me in order to serve His people. He guides me through many people. He forms me in many different ways through my life. His blessing is always with me

I want to mention only one thing here, that is, how God works through my parents. Even though I was born in a small village where receiving a primary education is like getting a degree to the villagers, my parents managed, step by step, to send me, first to the town and then to the city, for my education. I know well how much sacrifice - blood, sweat and tears - was involved. Not only by their words but also by their actions did my parents encourage me. My father gave his life for the Church in 1997. While he was looking after God’s people whom he loves and for whom he cares so much, he was killed by Burmese soldiers. I am inspired by his witness - I also want to give my life for God and His people if God chooses me to be like my father. At the moment, my mother looks after about 70 orphans under the guidance of Fr. Bruno Philip.

Finally, I thank God for my parents and my vocation. He alone can do everything. Please keep me in your prayers so that I can follow in the footsteps of my parents and so be a good, holy and humble priest one day.

- from the Seminary of the Good Shepherd website: http://www.sgs.org.au/gregs.htm