Farewell Behind Bars

On the morning of June 30, 2023, Fr. Joseph Aik Maung of the Society of Jesus, who has been a dedicated volunteer for the Davao Prison Ministry (DAPMin), presided over his last set of masses in the Davao City Jails.

After months of dedicated volunteering, Fr. Joseph Aik Maung, S.J., presided over one final holy mass in the male, female, and annex jails before returning to his home country of Myanmar. This marked the conclusion of his mission, coming just a day after he achieved his master’s degree in social work.

At the end of these masses, Fr. Aik took the microphone to express his gratitude to, first and foremost, God for the opportunity to preside over these masses and to all the PDL’s for their active participation every week. He hopes for them to continue to pray for one another and one day to see them shining.

“I would like to thank and gratitude also to God for giving us the opportunity for this twice-a-month meeting here and having the opportunity to celebrate the eucharistic celebration with you, and thank you so much also sharing your joy and your struggles in your life with me. So, let us continue to pray for one another, and when I come back to visit Davao again, I hope to be seeing you shining. Shining outside.” said Fr. Aik Maung during the mass at the Annex Jail.

Fr. Joseph Aik Maung S.J was born in Novermber 15, 1977 in Myanmar. There, he entered the local seminary in 1998 but decided to join the Society of Jesus in 2001. He was ordained in 2010. Around this time, he moved to the Philippines to study for his bachelor’s degree in the church and a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry at Ateneo de Manila University. After receiving both degrees, he returned to Myanmar and traveled to Australia for formation. Fr. Aik Maung arrived in Davao City in 2022 to pursue studies for his master’s degree in Social Work at Ateneo de Davao University.

The Davao Archdiocesan Prison Ministry partnered with the local Jesuit community prior to the pandemic; then, the partnership temporarily stopped during the height of COVID-19. When the restrictions were lifted, masses were resumed, and the Jesuits were invited back. During the turn of the Jesuits, Fr. Tony Basilio mainly presided over these masses. However, due to his many commitments, he would ask Fr. Aik to take over for him due to his lighter schedule. Despite his short tenure with DAPMin, Fr. Aik has become a beloved figure in the jails, especially among the personnel and inmates. (Alessandro Rikardo V. Millabe | St. Francis of Assisi Parish Ma-a SoCCom)