Archbishop Charles C. Thompson of Indianapolis, left, and Fr. Timothy Wyciskalla, listen to Nan Moe Kyi of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish read a petition during a prayer service for Burmese refugees at Roncalli High School Feb. 11, 2021. A military coup was carried out in the southeast Asian country
Feb. 1. (CNS/The Criterion/Natalie Hoefer)
Indianapolis — On Feb. 1, Myanmar refugee and Indianapolis resident Paul Hnin scrolled through news articles online when a headline seized him with shock and fear: The Myanmar military had overthrown the country's democratic government.
"I couldn't think," said the 37-year-old member of St. Barnabas Parish in Indianapolis. "We don't want to go through this again. We need democracy!"