Archbishop of Taunggyi
Archbishop Basilio Athai, Archbishop of Taunggyi, was born on July 22, 1956, in Kyekadaw, Kayah State, in the Diocese of Loikaw. After attending local primary and secondary schools, he obtained a licentiate in geography from the state university of Taunggyi. Following his first ecclesiastical formation at St. Teresa Minor Seminary, Taunggyi, he completed his philosophical and theological studies at the major seminary of Yangon. He was ordained a priest for Loikaw on April 1, 1984, in Naung Yah. He then served as parochial vicar of Hwary, then in the Diocese of Taunggyi (1984-1986); parochial vicar of the cathedral of Taunggyi (1986-1989); professor of philosophy at the major seminary of the Archdiocese of Mandalay (1989-1991); parish priest of Dorokohu in the Diocese of Loikaw (1991-1993); a student for a licentiate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Urban University (1993-1996); and parish priest of Nanattaw in the Diocese of Loikaw (1996-2005). From 2005 he served as rector of St. Michael Propaedeutic Major Seminary of Taunggyi, and he has been a member of the council of the clergy, of the college of consultors and of the pastoral council of the diocese. On June 28, 2008, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Tasaccora and Auxiliary Bishop of Taunggyi. He received episcopal ordination on November 18, 2008, with Salvatore Pennacchio as principal consecrator and Matthias U Shwe and Sotero Phamo as co-consecrators. On April 12, 2015, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Taunggyi, and on June 24, 2016, Archbishop of Taunggyi.