BISCOM 8 on Social Media

The FABC-Office of Social Communication invites all bishops to join a five-day seminar-workshop on "Social Media: Surfing, Blogging, Networking, Gaming, Addiction... - Challenges and Opportunities for Communication Ministry in Asia." This 8th "Bishops' Institute for Social Communication" (BISCOM 8) will be held from 3 to 8 September 2012 at Assumption University, Suvarnabhumi campus in Bangkok, Thailand. Register now on a first-come, first served basis. 230212

BILA IV on Women

The Women's Desk of the FABC-Office of Laity and Family is organizing the 4th Bishops' Institute for Lay Apostolate on Women (BILA IV on Women) on July 9-13, 2012 at Camillian Pastoral Centre, Latkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand. The gathering aims to confront Women issues at Asian level and to renew the ministry and mission towards a more just and egalitarian society. 060212

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AsIPA 6th General Assembly

The FABC Office of Laity and Family - AsIPA Desk will be holding its 6th General Assembly on October 18-24, 2012 at Chintana Center, Nainamadama, Sri Lanka. The theme of the of the assembly is "Go you are sent forth" (Mt. 10:5) - following Jesus in mission: Small Christian communities serving and ministering. 030212

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Message from BISA VIII

The message from the 8th Bishops' Institute of Social Action (BISA VIII) of the FABC Office of Human Development held at Camillian Pastoral Care Centre, Bangkok, Thailand from January 18-24, 2012, is now available. The participants proposed a Pastoral-Theological Programme of Action for Asia. 270112

FABC Secretary General Appointed Pontifical Council Member

The FABC Secretary General, Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India was appointed member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication. Cardinal Gracias has been a board member of FABC-Office of Social Communication and the General Body of Radio Veritas Asia from 2002-till 2010. 200112

BITA IV: Re-scheduled

The Bishops’ Institute of Theological Animation (BITA-IV) on “Youth in Asia: Challenges of Fundamentalism and Relativism” is re-scheduled from May 2011 to April 23-27, 2012 and will be held in Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Centre, Sampran, Thailand. 060112

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FABC-OE Seminar for Bishops, Formators and Priests

The FABC Office of Clergy will organize a seminar for Bishops, Formators, and Priests of Asia on "the Contemporary Challenges of Living Priestly Celibacy in the Context of Present Day Crisis in the Church in Asia." The seminar will be held from May 14-19, 2012 at the Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Click here for further details 050112

Social Networking for Pastoral Ministry

The 16th annual gathering of bishops responsible for communication and their secretaries was held at St. Paul’s Pastoral Centre in Hualien, Taiwan from 14 to 19 November. More than 30 participants came with officials of Radio Veritas Asia, Signis-Asia, and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA). Msgr. Paul Russel, Holy See’s charge d’affairs in Taiwan, was also present. The theme “Social Networking for Pastoral Ministry” was mainly treated through a two-day seminar-workshop Nov 15-16 on the how-to’s of social media e.g., file sharing, microblogging, visual storytelling, and online gaming. This year’s Final Statement lists guideposts on how the Church should engage in social media. In it, the participants stress the importance of creative engagement through collaborative efforts, as well as research. Social media should be placed at the service of FABC’s three-fold dialogue - with the poor, cultures, and religions. More... 081211

Climate Change in Asia: Towards a New Creation

Some 55 participants from 16 Episcopal Conferences in Asia, and 2 associate members of the FABC met in Bangkok on 19-20th Oct. 2011 to discuss "Church Response to the Challenge of Climate Change in Asia: Towards a New Creation."

International experts assisted on the urgency of this issue in the context of the Church’s commitment to protect the integrity of God’s Creation in Asia and leave a meaningful legacy for future generations. One significant decision was to create a Desk in the Central Secretariat of FABC with a competent person to follow up on this urgent issue. The seminar was financially supported by the German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation (MISEREOR). 261011

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FABC Elects New Secretary General

At its October 21 meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, the FABC Central Committee has duly elected Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India as its New Secretary General from January 1, 2012. He succeeds Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, from Philippines as the latter completes two terms of office on December 31, 2011. The duration of Cardinal Gracias' term is 3 years, renewable thereafter. Cardinal Gracias was a board member of FABC-Office of Social Communication for two terms from 2004-2010.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias was born in Mumbai, India on December 24, 1944. He obtained his Doctorate in Canon Law and a Diploma in Jurisprudence in Rome. He was elevated to the position of the Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay 16th September 1997 and on November 23, 2000 the Archbishop of Agra. After the promotion of Cardinal Dias to Rome, he was appointed the Archbishop of Bombay on October 14, 2006. The present Holy Father elevated him to the position of Cardinal on October 17, 2007.

Besides serving many responsible assignments on national and international levels, he is presently serving the following assignments: the Vice Chairman, Vox Clara Committee, Congregation of Sacraments, Rome, Chairman, C.B.C.I. Commission for Law and Public litigation and President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India 24101

Urgent Invitation for BISA-VIII

The FABC-Office of Human Development is urgently inviting participants from the bishops conferences of Asia for their upcoming 8th Bishops’ Institute of Social Action and to commemorate the office’ 40th years anniversary.

Click here for further details 101011

CLIMATE CHANGE SEMINAR

Global Warming and Climate Change and its Impact on Asia

Challenges and the response of the Church

Jointly organized by FABC Central Secretariat and Misereor, Germany

Venue: Bangkok, 19 and 20 October 2011

click here for further details  101011

Laity Newsletter (July-September 2011) Uploaded

The latest edition of the Laity Newsletter of FABC-OFL is now available.  200911

8th Bishops' Institute for Social Action (BISA VIII) to be held in November

After the special workshop on the challenges of Migrants and Indigenous Peoples in Asia in 26-29 July, the FABC-Office of Human Development (OHD) will hold the eighth "Bishops' Institute for Social Action" (BISA VIII) on November 4-12, 2011 in Thailand. This year marks the 40th anniversary of OHD, and the commemoration of some of the Church's social teachings. BISA VIII will, thus, include re-reading of the Catholic Social Teaching in the context of Asia. To be covered are Rerum Novarum, Quadragesimo Anno, Mater et Magistra, Pacem in Terris, Gaudium et Spes, Populorum Progressio, Octogesima Adveniens, Justice in the world, Laborem Excercens, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, Centesimus Annos, and Caritas in Veritate. For details, please contact OHD.   180711

FABC-OTC New Publication

The Office of Theological Concerns (OTC) of FABC has published a Festschrift entitled "Harvesting from the Asian Soil: Towards an Asian Theology," to mark the 25th anniversary of the Office. The publication is a collection of theological articles from leading theologians on Asian Theology. For details, please contact OTC.   180711

FABC-OHD program for 2011 Uploaded

The program for 2011 of the Office of Human Development of FABC is now available online.   150711

Laity Newsletter (April-June 2011) Uploaded

The latest edition of the Laity Newsletter of FABC-OFL is now available.  010711

New publication from FABC-Office of Laity & Family-Women’s Desk

The Women’s Desk of the FABC-Office of Laity and Family has published the second volume of Discipleship of Asian Women at the Service of Life. The publication documents the different papers presented at the BILA IV on Women and some selected papers from the regional meetings between 2000 and 2010. The book is printed by Claretian publication, Bangalore, India. For further details please contact the FABC-OL. 080611

Final Statement of FABC-OC Recent Seminar Uploaded

The Final Statement of the FABC-Office of Clergy seminar on Bishop as Father, Brother and Friend of Priests is now uploaded. The statement highlights the need for the bishop to accompany his priests by fostering a family atmosphere in the diocese. On-going formation including spiritual and human formation, are also emphasized to enable the bishop to become Father, Brother and Friend to priest as stipulated in Pastores Gregis. 080611

Seminar on the Impact of Pedophilia-Crisis for the Church in Asia

The FABC-Office of Clergy will organize a seminar for Bishops and formators of Asia on the theme: “The Impact of Pedophilia-Crisis on the Church in Asia” from November 14 to 19, 2011 at Assumption University in  Bangkok, Thailand. For more information, contact Fr. Lawrence Pinto, msij at Fax: (+91 824) 2483895 Email: fabclpinto@yahoo.co.uk and fabckavoor@yahoo.com 290411

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FABC Paper No. 133 Available

The FABC Paper No. 133 titled "On Human Being in the Changing Realities of Asia" is now available. The document is edited by Fr. Vimal Tirimanna, CssR , the executive, secretary of the FABC Office of Theological Concerns.  This document is divided into four parts and has the purpose of discussing how the people of Asia encounter God in their  changing contextual realities and calling them to mission. 290411

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ACTS IV ORGANIZED

The fourth gathering of the Asian Conference of Theology Students (ACTS IV) was held from 4-6 April 2011 at the Bangkok Christian Guest House in Bangkok, Thailand. Thirty one (31) students representing the countries from the various denominations and seminaries throughout Asia which are part of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) actively participated. The theme of ACTS IV was: “Praying and Working Together for Unity in the Household of God.” Participants discussed realities and challenges faced by the churches and peoples of the countries. Central issues like theologizing in the Asian context, economic realities, conflict analysis and understanding ecumenical dialogue as an integration of all God’s creation were also discussed. The unifying fellowship in ACTS IV brought the participants to commit themselves to deepen their involvement in ecumenism within their capacity. (full report) 150411

X FABC PLENARY ASSEMBLY

The X FABC Plenary Assembly will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on November 19-23, 2012 as confirmed by FABC Central Committee meeting in January 2011. The theme of the X FABC Plenary Assembly is “FABC at Forty: Responding to the Challenges of Asia”, marking the 40th anniversary of the approval of the FABC Statutes by Pope Paul VI, November 16, 1972. 050411

BITA IV Postponed

The upcoming Bishops’ Institute of Theological Animation (BITA-IV) of the FABC Office of Theological Concern, on Fundamentalism, Relativism and Materialism- Pastoral Responses in our Asian Contexts has been postponed. The meeting coincides with the Ad Limina visit of the intended participants. The precise date is yet to be decided. 280311

Clergy Documents Now Online

The Office of Clergy has released two documents and are now available online: Final Statement of the Seminar on "Paradigm Shift in the Mission and Ministry of the Priest in Asia" (Bangkok, Thailand May 10-15, 2010), and the Final Statement of the Fomrators' Seminar on "Spiritual Formation of Priests" (Bangkok, Thailand November 14-19, 2010). 150111

BITA IV On Christian Discipleship in Asia

The Office of Theological Concern of FABC will be organizing the 4th Bishops’ Institute of Theological Animation (BITA IV) on “Christian Discipleship in Asia: Challenges of Fundamentalism and Relativism-Pastoral Approaches.” The seminar will be held in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, Baan Phu Waan, Samphran, Thailand on May 2-6, 2011. BITA IV will be exclusive for Asian bishops only and will discuss various pastoral topics relevant to the Asian Church today.

For details please contact the FABC-OTC.

FABC Papers Nos. 131 & 132a Now Online

FABC Papers Nos. 131 & 132a are now available for download. Paper No. 131 titled "A Glimpse of Dialogue in Asia" was released on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the first "Bishops' Institute for Interreligious Affairs" (BIRA). It includes a discussion on "Dialogue in the Early Teachings of FABC." Paper No. 132a on "Word of God in the Life & Mission of the Church" documents the key inputs at the fifth Biblical Congress, which coincided with the third "Bishops' Institute for Biblical Apostolate" (BIBA III) Nov 4-8, 2010 in Pattaya, Thailand. The meeting was organized by the FABC-Office of Evangelization in cooperation with the Catholic Biblical Foundation (CBF) for Asia/Oceania.