 News Archive
FABC Central Committee Meets
The Central Committee of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) will meet on
November 18 and 19 in Hua Hin, Thailand. The committee is the highest decision body of the
Federation, second to the Plenary Assembly, and composed of the presidents of FABC-member
bishops' conferences. This year's meeting will elect a new secretary general following the
term of Archbishop Oswald Gomis of Colombo. The Federation is directed by the
secretary general; there is no president in the FABC set up.
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Communication in Religions of Asia
"Social Communications in Religious Traditions of Asia" was the theme of a Roundtable organized
by the FABC Office of Social Communication in cooperation with the Graduate School of Philosophy and
Religion of Assumption University and the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communication
of Saint John's University in Bangkok.
The meeting took place October 3-7 at Assumption University
Huamark campus and was locally organized by the faculty there. Some 20 scholars and specialists from
different religions presented their findings on the role of social communication in Buddhism, Hinduism,
Islam, Christianity and Confucianism.
Social Communication was stated as being at the beginning of all religions, and also decisive for
the spreading of religious meanings and practices. In some religions like Hinduism, a certain
"incommunicability" exists as the inner core of religious communications which cannot be fully
expressed in verbal ways. This is also true in Christian communication with the indwelling of
the Holy Spirit in the communicator.
Religious communication, the participants agreed, is very much related to oral traditions, the
use of symbols and traditional means of communication. Languages are also an important vehicle.
Communication in religions also calls for a certain equality between communicator and recipient.
Religious communication is not only top-bottom, and merely concerned about dissemination of information.
Rather, they are supposed to foster participation and sharing.
Such communication is based on a deep spirituality growing from silence as a special source of
inspiration and experiencing the holy. Religious communication has also a liberative function in
the lives and experiences of people.
Communication in religion does not rely on technical means alone but is determined by
reflection and action, the participants said. The participants acknowledged, however, also the growing
challenge of multimedia and the Internet of modern times.
see the final statement (OSC-Roundtables)
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Interreligious Dialogue as Communication
"Interreligious Dialogue as Communication" is the title of a new publication of the Office of
Social Communication of the FABC. The book reports the presentations and reflections of last
year's fifth "Bishops' Institute for Social Communication" (BISCOM V) on the same theme.
Some 30 Archbishops and Bishops gathered for this occasion in Bali, Indonesia together with
an additional 40 priests, religious and lay people concerned about interreligious dialogue.
The 192-page book contains all the presentations and the final statement. It is published as
volume six of the FABC-OSC book series by Logos (Divine Word) Publications, Manila.
Order from Logos (Divine Word) Publications, Inc. at 1916 Oroquieta St. Sta. Cruz, Manila
email: info@logospublications.com
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First FABC Women's Meeting for East Asia
The first FABC Meeting on Women in East Asia was held at Bishop Lei International House,
Hong Kong August 15-19, 2005. There were 38 participants from all East Asian countries
including two nuns from Mainland China, a layman, a Japanese priest and two bishops -
one each from Japan and Hong Kong.
The participants learned the different outreach programs for women in Hong Kong diocese.
Listening to stories helped them realize the pain and struggle of many women, especially poor
women, in society today.
The participants also saw the relation between culture and women's oppression.
Through inputs, they saw how globalization impacts women in the family and society.
And through prayer sessions and Gospel reflections the participants received with joy
the good news of Jesus for women. They felt that women need to play a larger role in
bringing to fore the "feminine qualities" of the Church.
In the end, the participants drew measures to help East Asian women play their rightful
role in the mission of the Church: first, in strengthening families; and second, working in
partnership with men for spreading God's reign of justice, love and peace in the region.
THE FIRST EAST ASIA MEETING ON WOMEN Document
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Asian Youth at World Youth Day, Cologne
(The following are excerpts from an UCANews reported by Gerald O'Connell)
More than 8,000 young people from 21 Asian lands celebrated the 20th World Youth Day (WYD) with Pope Benedict XVI in Germany.
Their number compared proportionately well with those from other continents, even if Asians accounted for less than 1 percent of the 1 million youth people who joined Pope Benedict for the Aug. 16-21 celebration in Cologne, Germany.
The Asian presence was much in evidence throughout the week, particularly at the candlelit vigil on Aug. 20, and during the next day's solemn papal Mass, concelebrated by 9,000 priests and 800 bishops, including 60 cardinals.
At the deeply moving vigil at Marienfeld ("Mary's Field"), 25 miles outside Cologne, five women and one man from India danced gracefully at the prayer service. During the Mass, a young man from India gave a distinctly Asian flavor to the singing of the Creed by playing the sitar, while people other Asian countries carried the offertory gifts.
Taiwan's Rosa Lee Yunju, 21, was one of a dozen youths who had lunch with the pope on Aug. 19. Lee was just one of more than 1,000 Chinese attending WYD this year. About 200 came from mainland China (both the "open" and "underground" Church). More than 200 others were from Hong Kong, 30 from Macau and about 550 from Taiwan.
However, Asia's largest contingent came from the Philippines. The 2,874 Filipino participants included bishops, priests, and Religious men and women, as well as many others who live in Germany or elsewhere in Europe.
More than 1,200 Koreans also took part in the Cologne gathering, including a small number from North Korea. Together with Jesuit Brother Youh Shin-jae, who is engaged in campus ministry, 40 came from Jesuit-run Sogang University in Seoul.
No less than 800 young people came to Cologne from India, together with some bishops, priests, and Religious men and women.
Among the 100 or so young Indonesians, 50 came from Jakarta, the others from Aceh province or from Bandung, Bogor and Surabaya on Java Island. Two priests and a bishop accompanied them.
Young people also came from Afghanistan (about 200), Armenia, Bangladesh (100), Bhutan, Cambodia, Japan (500), Kazakhstan (270), Laos, Malaysia (150), Mongolia, Myanmar (150), Nepal, Pakistan (340), Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand (50), Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. During the week, many participated in the "Asian festival," dressed in their national costumes, singing songs and performing dances from their homelands, and praying together. The festival provided a microcosmic picture of the reality of the youthful Catholic Church in Asia.
Among several bishops who spoke during the catechetical sessions in Cologne, Bonn and Dusseldorf were Cardinal Ivan Dias of Bombay, India, and prelates from Hong Kong, Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. For the first time at a WYD, two catechetical sessions were conducted in Chinese -- Bishop Joseph Zen Ze-kiun of Hong Kong spoke to young people in Cantonese, and Bishop Bosco Lin Chi-nan of Tainan, Taiwan, talked in Mandarin.
A follow up to Cologne will be the Asian Youth Day which is planned on August 2006 at Hong Kong / Macau.
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Asian Mission Congress 2006 to be pastoral - catechetical
An Asian Mission Congress will take place in Thailand from October 18-23, 2006. The Theme is:
"The Story of Jesus Christ in Asia: A Celebration of Faith and Life". The congress was proposed by the
Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (Propaganda) and is organized by the FABC Office
of Evangelization. In a preparatory meeting, June 26-27, 2005, the objectives of the congress were spelled
out in a more detail as: (1) sharing the joy enthusiam of our faith, (2) celebrating Asian ways of mission,
(3) raising awareness for "Mission Ad Gentes" and (4) showing priorities for renewed mission animation.
The congress will be pastoral-catechetical in nature. The organizers expect some 1,000 participants from all
over Asia, but the majority of them from Thailand. The venue for the congress will probably be "Baan Phu Wan",
the pastoral center of the archdiocese, some 40 kilometers from Bangkok city center.
see FABC Office of Evangelization for details
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FABC mourns Jaime Cardinal Sin
Jaime Cardinal Sin, retired archbishop of Manila, Philippines, died on June 21, 2005. He was 76.
Cardinal Sin was especially related to the "Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences" (FABC)
through his chairmanship of PREIC (Philippine Radio, Education and Information Center), the legal
body for the FABC-owned Radio Veritas Asia (RVA).
Radio Veritas Asia is the continental Catholic short-wave radio station for Asia.
It broadcasts in 16 different languages to some 20 different Asian countries, with PREIC
as the legal basis for operating in the Philippines. The FABC has full responsibility for
the operations and financing of the radio station.
After his transfer to Manila, then Archbishop Sin promoted the rehabilitation of RVA
after a temporary breakdown in 1973/74. Because of his involvement in the affairs of the station,
Cardinal Sin became a member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication in the Vatican right
from the beginning of his ministry in Manila.
Cardinal Sin together with the Filipino bishops hosted the 6th FABC General Assembly in Manila
in 1995 and the 25th anniversary of Radio Veritas Asia with Pope John Paul II as guest of honor.
"It is the truth of Jesus Christ that we tirelessly proclaim here at Radio Veritas Asia, the voice
of truth in the Asian region," the Cardinal told the Pope at that occasion.
Cardinal Sin visited the station many times sharing his wisdom, moral support as well as his humor.
He will be truly missed. May he rest in peace.
Condolences: FABC CCA
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Timor Leste joins FABC
The bishops of East Timor have recently decided and applied to become
members of the 'Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC)'.
Since there are up to now only two dioceses in the young church the
bishops will apply only as associate members of the federation.
Full membership as a conference will be given as soon as a third
diocese is created and thus a bishops' conference of East Timor can be established.
With Timor Leste the youngest and newest country of Asia will become
part of the FABC family. The official acceptance will be confirmed at the
next central committee meeting of the Federation before the end of 2005.
The central committee consists of the presidents of the FABC-member bishops'
conferences.
Timor Leste was created as an independent country on May 20, 2002.
With over 90% of the total 800,000 population being Catholic, it is
before the Philippines with some 85%, the most Catholic country in
the Asian continent. Both are considered the only predominantly
Christian countries in Asia.
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Catholic Bishops' Conference of Vietnam's
follow-up of the 8th FABC Plenary
The Final Document of FABC 8th General Assembly on -'The Asian Family towards Culture of Integral Life' has been
translated into Vietnamese. It has been distributed to the 25 dioceses of the country. Meetings are organized for
all local churches and parishes to study this document. Another sixteen-page booklet on 'Sympathy and Solidarity
with Persons Having HIV/AIDS' has been completed. The purpose of this document is to help HIV patients and their
families to take precautions against the prevailing disease. 10,000 copies were distributed to 2,500 parishes and
religious organization. The country is facing this serious disease with already now some 245,000 HIV-AIDS infected
persons. Because of lack of knowledge many people discriminate against HIV patients. The document shall provide a
better understanding how to treat HIV patients. The Church is propagating healthy lifestyles to form good Christians,
especially young people. The Church has also started a research on Vietnamese Families to get exact num bers to deepen
the study of those problems which were presented at the FABC Plenary Assembly in Korea last August 2004.
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TSUNAMI: A Challenge to Christian Communicators
An international conference on the communication consequences of the
Tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004 was organized in Bangkok from March
18 to 22. In cooperation with Caritas-Asia, Signis-Asia and the
communications office of the Thai bishops' conference, the meeting
was conceptualized by the FABC Office of Social Communication (Manila).
The considerations went from a more descriptive presentation of the
happenings to the presentation of the social communication experiences.
From here, the 42 participants coming from all parts of Asia formulated their
proposals and ideas in a final message from the meeting.
view message under Office of Social Communication documents
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Asian Mission Congress 2006
An Asian Mission Congress will be held from
October 16-20, 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The event organized by the Office of Evangelization
in cooperation with the Holy See's Congregation
for the Evangelization of Peoples. In preparation
for the congress, OE has called for a planning
meeting of chairmen of mission and evangelization
commissions of FABC-member conferences, national
directors of Pontifical Mission Societies as well
as executive secretaries of FABC offices in Samphran,
Thailand in June 2005. The proposed theme of the
congress is "The Story of Jesus in Asia:
A Celebration of Faith and Life."
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POPE JOHN PAUL II AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
A course on “Church and Public Relations: the Case of John Paul II” is
offered in the new school year 2005/06 at the Pontifical University
of Santo Tomas in Manila. The course is offered at the Graduate
School within an MA Theology program on Social/Pastoral Communication,
initiated by the FABC Office of Social Communication. Other subjects
within the program include an extensive two-semester course on Pastoral
and Evangelizing Communication, as well as Church and New Media,
Religious Broadcasting, Religious Journalism, Church Documents on
Social Communication, and others. The PR course will study extensively
how Pope John Paul II, not only through his words, but also his
personality was an outstanding PR example.
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FABC Offices Meet
A joint planning meeting of all FABC offices took place in Bangkok from February 28- March 4, 2005. The chairmen-bishops and executive secretaries of the nine FABC officers presented their recent activities, experiences and plans for the future. A greater cooperation and mutual support as well as joint ventures were discussed.
The renaming of the Office of Laity into "Office of Laity and Family" was confirmed. This FABC office works with three subdivisions: Youth Desk, AsIPA Desk, and Women Desk. Family was the theme of the 8th Plenary Assembly of the FABC August last year in Daejeon, Korea.
The General Secretary, Archbishop Oswald Gomis, chaired the Bangkok meeting.
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Rooting Faith in Asia
A resource book for inculturation was published, after five years of preparation,
by the FABC Office of Evangelization under the title "Rooting Faith in Asia." In the first
part, the 435-page publication presents experiences of inculturation from all FABC countries.
This chapter is followed by a discussion of key issues of inculturation like cultural values,
spirituality, Interreligious dialogue, liturgy and worship. The theological foundations of
inculturation are addressed in a third part, whereas the concluding fourth part entitled
"Continuing Inculturation Today" gives further considerations on areas like human development,
ecology, cultural crisis, spirituality and social communication. Some 60 contributors from Asia
share information and considerations, each one covering in a few pages overviews and directions to
reflect, start and deepen the process of inculturation. The main editors of the book are the executive
secretary of the FABC Office of Evangelization, Fr. Saturnino Dias, and Fr. John Prior, svd.
The editorial team is completed with James H. Kroeger mm, Julian Saldanha sj and C. Joy E. Pereira (Colombo).
The resource book is a joint publication of Claretian Publishers in Bangalore and Manila from where it can be
ordered. The original print comes from India.
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World Youth Day - Cologne:
Asian Youth Gathering
FABC-Office of the Laity-Youth Desk invites all Asian delegates to the
Asian Youth Gathering. This is an event within the World Youth Day
where Asian delegates and friends gather for an afternoon of celebration
and prayer. It is an opportunity to build friendships and to grow
in solidarity with one another as a region. Moreover, it aims to
deepen the theme of World Youth Day in the context of Asian realities
affecting the young. The gathering aptly entitled:
YOUNG ASIAN MAGI:
Let's Praise and Worship!
will be held on August 17, Tuesday from 14:00 - 17:30 at the Hardtberghalle, Graustrasse 1 53125 Bonn.
For details, e-mail FABC Youth Desk at joyphils03@yahoo.com
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THE SUMMIT OF ASIAN RELIGIOUS YOUTH LEADERS
Last July 4-6, 2005, the Youth Desk attended the very first SUMMIT
OF ASIAN RELIGIOUS YOUTH LEADERS in Ambon, Indonesia. Organized
by the World Conference on Religions for Peace and in cooperation
with El.Ai.Em Ambon and Interfidei Institute from Jogjakarta, the
program was participated in by 68 leaders from 14 countries. The
theme of the gathering was Religious Youth For Peace: Confronting
Violence and Advancing Shared Security...read more
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Asian Mission Prayer
A special prayer for the Asian Mission Congress was approved by
heads of the organizing committees in their January 20-21 planning
meeting in Bangkok.
The prayer starts with the mission of Jesus willed by the Father
and refers to the fact that Jesus was born in Asia. The situation of
Christianity in Asia is described as a "little flock in this vast continent."
Christians are called for "loving service to all" especially the "least
among our brothers and sisters."
The Holy Spirit is asked to empower us in "telling the story of Jesus
in Asia and by discovering the various modes of His presence." The Spirit
of the Risen Lord should "speed our steps" in "encountering our brothers and
sisters of other faiths and cultural traditions through a dialogue of life
and faith."
Finally, Mary as the Mother of the Church in Asia is asked to lead
Christians to her Son and to stimulate their "passion for the will of God."
The prayer is primarily composed for the Asian Mission Congress but
can be used as a general "Asian Mission Prayer" by all Christians throughout
the continent.
Asian Mission Prayer
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Asian Mission Congress Takes Shape
Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming Asian Mission Congress October 18-22, 2006 in
Chiang Mai, Thailand. The national congress secretariat in Thailand located at the bishops’
conference in Bangkok presented at a January 21-22 preparatory meeting an extensive action plan
for the event. This was further developed by those responsible for the international dimension.
In preparation for the congress, the Thai church will have its own national congress in
August before the Asia-wide event.
The preparatory meeting decided to have three categories of participants: Delegates,
Guests and Observers. Delegates are the official persons from the different Asian countries
who will be nominated and endorsed by their respective bishops’ conferences in cooperation
with the national offices of the Pontifical Mission Society. Guests are especially invited
people like representatives of other Christian churches in Asia. Observers are those who have a personal interest in the mission congress, and will secure their own accommodation and board. They might, however, have limited access to certain activities of the congress like workshops.
The congress theme song selected from different proposals was composed by seminarian
Booncharat Suksawang of the Lux Mundi National Major Seminary in Thailand.
A special Asian Mission Prayer was finalized as a prayer for the
congress and beyond.
In support for the Asian Mission Congress, the Comboni World Mission Magazine will publish a
special issue September-October with statistics and reports on the Church concerns and mission
in Asia. This publication will also serve as source for discussions during the congress.
There will be also special liturgical arrangements involving Asian cultures and mentalities.
The congress is organized jointly by the Thai bishops’ conference and the FABC Office of Evangelization
in cooperation with other FABC offices and representatives of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Asia.
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Human Formation of Priests
"Human Formation of Priests in the Challenges of the Asian Context" is the theme of
a five-day consultation organized by the newly established Office of Clergy of the FABC.
The consultation expects some 50 to 60 rectors of major seminaries from all over Asia.
Invitations have been sent to the FABC-member bishops' conferences and to individual
seminaries as far as their addresses have been submitted to the Clergy office.
The consultation intends to update seminary rectors on the challenges of modern
developments in Asia for human and spiritual commitments of priests in their daily
ministry. The meeting also will try to reflect on the identity of the priest in Asia,
and how to enrich priestly life.
The consultation will take place at the Salesian Retreat House in Hua Hin, Thailand
from May 14-19. For details, please contact Fr. Lawrence Pinto, FABC-OC Rosalene Villa,
Pinto Valley, Mangalore 575015 Karnataka, India Fax: +91 824 2483007
Email: fabclpinto@yahoo.co.uk
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Colloquium on Harmony and Reconciliation
An Asian colloquium on "Harmony through Reconciliation" will take place at the
Redemptorist Centre in Pattaya, Thailand from January 16-21, 2006. This meeting
is the seventh of the FEISA series ("Faith Encounters in Social Action") organized
by the FABC-Office of Human Development. Most of the 60 participants expected will
contribute papers on 26 different topics related to the conference, which commemorates
in a special way 40 years of the Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope).
Cardinal Renato Rafaelle Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace,
will deliver a keynote message on "Joy and Hope Amidst Grief and Anguish: Gospel of the
21st Century." Other speakers will include Malaysia scholar Chandra Muzaffar, Theologian
Fr Felix Wilfred from India, and social activist Mr. Sulak Sivaraksa from Thailand.
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"Role of Religions in Local Church" FABC Paper 116 Published
The Central Secretariat published in December 2005 FABC Paper No. 116 on
"The Role of Religions in the Building Up of the Local Church." The Paper documents
the first symposium organized by the FABC Office of Consecrated Life in Hua Hin,
Thailand July 19-22, 2005. Articles included contributions by Archbishops Orlando
Quevedo and Thomas Menamparampil sdb, Sr Julma C. Neo, Fr Soosai Arokiasamy, sj and
Prof. Sugawara Yuji, sj. FABC Papers are available online through the FABC website in
cooperation with UCANews Hong Kong/ Bangkok.
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Asian Spirituality for
Social Communication
Some 30 Bishops and communication secretaries of bishops' conferences from 15
Asian countries gathered from Nov 21 to 26, 2005 in Hua Hin, Thailand to reflect
on "Asian Spirituality for Social Communication." It was the 10th annual gathering
of communication bishops of Asia, organized by the FABC Office of Social Communication.
This meeting always takes place in the last full week of November.
For the first time, East Timor was represented in the person of Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva of Dili.
Basis for the considerations were mainly texts on Spirituality from different FABC general assemblies as
well as remarks on the subject in former annual FABC-OSC gatherings. Other inputs were views of a journalist
and a woman on spirituality. The high point of the assembly, however, was the sharing of Reverend Kabilsingh,
a Buddhist nun, about Buddhist spirituality in relation to social communication. The final statement underlines
the need for spirituality and respective formation for communicators.
Next year's annual assembly will be on "Managing Communications for Bishops' Conferences."
Final Statement
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Archbishop Quevedo new
FABC General Secretary
Msgr. Orlando Quevedo, omi, Archbishop of Cotabato (Philippines) was elected as the new
Secretary General for the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) for the coming
three years. The Central Committee of the Federation elected him in their meeting in Hua Hin,
Thailand on November 18, 2005. Archbishop Quevedo has a long affiliation with the FABC and was
instrumental in writing the final document of the last General Assembly (2004) on Family.
The General secretary is the highest position within the Federation which does not have a
president.
At the same time also a new Assistant General Secretary for the Federation was introduced.
It is Canadian Fr. Raymond O'Toole of the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society (Scarborough, ON).
Fr. O'Toole was a leadership member of his community in Canada and coordinator of Scarboro Mission's
Interfaith Desk. He worked as a missionary in Brazil and Hong Kong from where he was asked to take
over the FABC responsibility. He is successor to Fr. Edward Malone, MM who was assistant General
Secretary of the FABC from its beginning in 1970.
The General Secretariat of the FABC is based in Hong Kong
where the Federation is also legally established.
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FABC Mission Congress Concludes
Year of Evangelization in Thailand
The Asian Mission Congress from October 18-22, 2006 will conclude a national year of
evangelization of the Catholic Church of Thailand. On mission Sunday this year October 23, 2005
the year of evangelization for the whole country was opened through a pastoral letter of Cardinal
Michai Kitbunchu as president of the bishops' conference and Archbishop Louis Chamniern of
Thanae-Nongsaeng as the chairperson of the Episcopal Commission for Mission and Catholic Education
of the bishops' conference. Through this celebration, Thai Catholics who are only a small minority
of some 300,000 within a population of 66 million should become "aware of the importance of the Gospel
and to be real witnesses of Christ everyday." The Asian Mission Congress is organized by the FABC-Office
of Evangelization in cooperation with the Thai bishops' conference. The congress will take place in
Chiang Mai, in the north of the country.
Asian Mission Congress 2006
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Human
Formation of Priests in Asia
"Human Formation of Priests" was the theme
of a consultation organized by the FABC Office of Clergy at the
Salesian Retreat Center in Hua Hin, Thailand May 15-19, 2006. Some
70 priest-rectors of major seminaries from 14 Asian countries mostly
India, discussed the challenges and opportunities of priestly ministry
in Asia. The consequences from priestly challenges like sexual issues
were discussed at length, as well as the need for a welcoming and
compassionate attitude of the priest towards the faithful and people
of other faiths. A spirit of "interior commitment to the mission"
is needed in a "spirit of communion," the participants said. In
a final statement, the participants recommended ways and means of
human formation based on a deep spirituality to help towards better
growth of priests.
Final
Statement
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FABC Documentation Centre Opens in Bangkok
A new FABC Documentation Centre was inaugurated
in Bangkok within the compound of St Louis Hospital owned by the
archdiocese. Michai Cardinal Kitbunchu, archbishop of Bangkok, presided
the blessing of the centre on May 21, 2006, together with Thai bishops’
conference President, Bishop George Phimphisan, and Archbishop Salvatore
Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand.
The FABC Secretary General, Archbishop Orlando
Quevedo omi, the chairmen-bishops and executive secretaries of the
nine FABC offices were present at the occasion. The event was a
highlight of a three-day joint planning meeting of the offices.
The new centre will house and preserve all books
published by the FABC as well as dissertations and other publications
referring one way or the other to the Federation. The FABC Documentation
Centre includes a conference room that can seat some 40 persons,
a library and several small offices.
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Inter-faith Marriages in Asia
"Inter-faith Marriages in the Pluralistic
Context of Asia" was the theme of the third "Bishops' Institute
of Theological Animation" (BITA) of the FABC-Office of Theological
Concerns. The conference was held in Hong Kong May 9-11, 2006. Joseph
Cardinal Zen, a former member of the same office was the host of
the meeting comprising 23 Asian bishops. The participants pointed
out that inter-faith marriages are fast becoming a fairly common
phenomenon and this not only in Asia. "There is a need," the participants
said, "to accompany the couple with compassion and realism." But
one should also be aware that especially in Asia, Family does not
simply mean the individual couple but also the extended family and
beyond.
Details
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Encountering Confucianism, Taoism and Folk Religions
The FABC Office of Education and Student Chaplaincy
recently organized a conference in Taiwan aiming to deeper understand
Confucianism, Taoism and Folk Religions. The conference was organized
in cooperation with the Regional Chinese Bishops’ Conference and
FuJen Catholic University. It tried to shape views of members of
these religions and their possible “contribution and challenges
to a globalized world” with ramifications in East and North-East
Asia. The meeting recommended continuing the spirit of “Nostra Aetate”
on mutual listening and learning for Interreligious dialogue as
well as in publishing respective resources.
Full
Report
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FABC Documentation Centre Set-up in Bangkok
Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, President
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT) has generously
granted the use of an entire floor in one of the buildings at the
St. Louis Hospital Compound, Bangkok, Thailand, for the use of FABC
as a Documentation Centre, wherein the various publications of FABC
may be kept and archived. While the Central Secretariat remains
in Hong Kong, the venue in Bangkok will serve as meeting place for
various FABC events and also as a possible location of the FABC
Office of Ecumenical & Interreligious Affairs
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Japan Catholic News' Goes Online
After 57 years of service to the local church
and elsewhere, the monthly newsletter of the Japanese bishops' conference
"Japan Catholic News" (JCN) will cease its printed version and go
online. To continue serving English speaking readers, news from
the "Katorikku Shimbun" will still be translated and compiled in
a section called "Japan Scene." The decision was made at the November
10, 2005 meeting of the Standing Committee of the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of Japan. The online newsletter will be available at
the CBCJ website
free of charge. JCN was first published on June 5, 1948. (JCN)
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Asian Mission Congress Program:
Telling the Story of Jesus in Asia
The theme of the upcoming Asian Mission Congress
is, in a special way, highlighted with the 500th birthday of the
great Asian missionary St Francis Xavier on April 7, 2006. The Diocese
of Shanghai in mainland China takes this as an occasion to launch
a Year of Evangelization similar to the Catholic Church in Thailand
which will conclude such a year with the Asian Mission Congress.
As to the program, Maryknoll Father James Kroeger writes in the
April-May edition of the “World Mission” magazine:
“The Asian Mission Congress, to be held from
October 18 to 22, 2006 in Chaing Mai, Thailand will unfold in four
thematic segments. First, the story of Jesus in the peoples of Asia
will be the focal point (e.g. family, youth, women, migrants). Secondly,
the ‘Jesus-story’ in the religions of Asia will be presented (e.g.
Buddhism, Islam, traditional religions). Thirdly, the cultures of
Asia will be related to Jesus (e.g. indigenous, contemporary and
media ‘cultures’). Finally, the story of how God’s Son guides the
life of the Church in Asia will be highlighted (e.g. Asian saints,
holiness, Mary). The Congress participants will celebrate faith
and life in all these pivotal dimensions of the story of Jesus in
Asia.”
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Points
for Departure for Asian Mission Congress
The plan to hold the continental mission congress
in Asia was introduced by Cardinal Crescencio Sepe, prefect of the
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, during his address
to the Central Committee of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference
in Bangkok September 27, 2002.
Monsignor Gilbert Garcera, the national director
of the Pontifical Mission Society in the Philippines, writes in
an article of World Mission magazine, Manila (March 2006). He cites
the fact that in Latin America such congresses are successfully
celebrated already since 1977. For the first Asian Mission Congress,
he says the main reasons are: First, the congress is a concrete
response to the late Pope John Paul II's call for the "Eucharist:
The Principle and Plan of Mission." In Mane Nobiscum Domine, the
Pope writes: "The 'culture of the Eucharist' promotes a culture
of dialogue which here finds strength and nourishment" (no. 26).
Another reason is the 500th anniversary of the birth of St Francis
Xavier, patron of mission and missionaries. This is "a providential
signal to focus Asia's attention on a model of ad gentes mission."
Third, from the local considerations, 2006 is the 300th anniversary
of the approval of the oratory of Blessed Joseph Vas, the first
indigenous "Society of Apostolic Life" in Asia (1706-2006).
All these are "points of departure," Garcera
writes, providing "Asian Christians with reasons to celebrate our
faith." The first Asian Mission Congress in Chiang Mai, Thailand
October 18-22, 2006 will be a celebration of Faith and Life under
the heading "Story of Jesus in Asia: A Celebration of Life and Faith."
For over three days, the congress will reflect on this theme through
personal faith stories from sharers and missiologists.
Daily themes have been arranged for participants
to share and interiorize "The Story of Jesus in the Peoples of Asia"
(October 19), "The Story of Jesus in the Religions of Asia" (October
20), "The Story of Jesus in the Cultures of Asia" (October 21) and
"The Story of Jesus in the Life of the Church in Asia (October 22,
the World Mission Sunday).
see
full text First Asian Mission Congress: Points of Departure
By Msgr. Gilbert A. Garcera
(file require Microsoft Word)
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Seminar on Christian Unity
A seminar on 'The Search for Christian Unity:
Where We Stand Today" is taking place in Seoul, Korea from July
17-21. The event, jointly organized by the Pontifical Council for
Promoting Christian Unity and the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious
Dialogue of the FABC, aims "to provide an opportunity for Asian
bishops and others working in the field to reflect on the realities
of ecumenical relations in Asian countries, and to develop effective
pastoral approaches."
This is part of a series of seminars the Pontifical
Council is organizing on various themes associated with ecumenism.
The first two seminars (Nairobi and Dakar) "aimed at presenting
the principles of ecumenism and motivating participants to respond
to the complex ecumenical situation" on the continent of Africa.
Another seminar in Sao Paulo, Brazil September 2005 "focused on
Pentecostalism and its growth in Brazil."
This year in Seoul, the seminar is "timed
to coincide with the World Methodist Conference to be held there
from July 20 to 24. At this conference, it is expected that the
Methodist Churches will adopt the Joint Declaration on Justification
agreed upon between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation
in 1999, and a solemn celebration of the Word of God will mark this
extended agreement to be signed in the presence of the Pontifical
Council President Cardinal Walter Kasper and Reverend Ismael Noko,
secretary general of the Lutheran World Federation.
A similar seminar is also foreseen in cooperation
with the FABC-Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for
February 7-11, 2007 in Manila.
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Social Communication Resources
The FABC-Office of Social Communication has
opened a new "Resources"
column in its section in the FABC website presenting full texts
of papers produced by the office for different meetings and occasions.
They are dealing with Church documents as well as Communication
Theology as a new field of study and Communications spirituality
and the communication dimension of Christianity. A research on "Texting
God: Religion and SMS in the Philippines" which was presented at
the "Media, Religion and Culture" Conference in Sigtuna Sweden July
6-9, 2006 is also included. All texts are presented as material
for study and reflection but not for publication without due permission.
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Academic
Papers for FABC Documentation Centre
In the course of 36 years of existence of
the FABC, quite some studies have been made about the considerations,
activities and life of the Federation. The new FABC Documentation
Centre in Bangkok aims to have a complete collection of all papers
especially Masteral and Doctoral theses written about the FABC.
We would like to ask our readers and friends to inform us about
any such paper, publication or thesis so that we can possibly secure
a copy for the center in Bangkok. Please contact the FABC-Office
of Social Communication at fabcosc@gmail.com
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AsIPA
General Assembly in November
AsIPA, the “Asian Integrated Pastoral
Approach initiative of the Office of Laity and Family of the FABC,
will have their fourth general assembly Nov 8 to 15, 2006 in Trivandrum,
India. The theme of the assembly will be SCC's/BEC's towards a Church
of Communion.” The conference seeks to study how the Integrated
Pastoral Approach can strengthen the Church as communion, which
effective steps are to be taken for nurturing small Christian communities
and especially how to live the Eucharist and the sacraments in small
Christian communities. The meeting is also supposed to discover
effective structures and plans for exchange and sharing of resources.
Two email addresses have been created for further
contacts and informations: asipa2006@yahoo.com and asipaassembly@rediff.com
More
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Pontifical
Mission Societies Taiwan call for full participation in First Asian
Mission Congress
The national office for the Pontifical Mission
Societies in Taiwan has urged Catholics in Asia to take an active
part in the First Asian Mission Congress to be held in Chiang Mai
diocese in Thailand 18-22 October on the theme “Telling the
Story of Jesus in Asia. ” According to Christian Life Weekly,
issued by Taipei diocese, the Congress will culminate with the celebration
of Mission Sunday on 22 October. The Congress will have four principal
goals: share the joy of faith in Christ; celebrate evangelization
of Asians through real life; promote better knowledge of the Ad
Gentes decree issued by Vatican II; foster new a lively evangelization.
The Pontifical Mission Societies in Taiwan encourage bishops, priests,
religious and lay people, young people especially, to take an active
part in the Congress signing up for it. Each diocese will be represented
by at least 3 delegates. (Agenzia Fides)
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Seminar
for Bishops on Priests-in-Difficulty Planned
The FABC Office of Clergy plans to hold a
Seminar for Bishops on "Dealing with Priests-in-Difficulty"
September 3-6 in Taipei, Taiwan. In order to prepare for this seminar
Executive Secretary, Fr Lawrence Pinto, calls on Chairmen Bishops
of national commissions for Clergy and Religious to get in touch
with the Clergy office at: MSIJ Bldg Pinto Valley, Kavoor Post,
Mangalore, Karnataka 575015 Tel/Fax: 0824 248 3895 Email: fabclpinto@yahoo.co.uk
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The
Churches in Asia
“The Churches in Asia” is the title
of a new book related to FABC. It is the English edition of a German
book published by the former director (1979-2001) of the Missiological
Institute of Missio Aachen, Dr Georg Evers. Over the years, he has
been at many FABC conferences especially cooperating with the FABC
Office of Theological Concerns. Evers’ book presents reports
on all member countries of the FABC and refers, after a short historical
overview especially to developments in the last 50 years. The new
publication is of great help for a first orientation and deeper
understanding of Church-related developments in different Asian
countries.
More
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Theme
Song for Asian Mission Congress
A theme song for the Asian Mission Congress
was composed by Seminarian Booncharat from the Lux Mundi National
Major Seminary in Thailand. The lyric is based beside others on
scriptural texts from The Magnificat (Lk 1:47) and the call of the
apostles (Jn 1:43-49). "My Heart fills with joy" the song starts
and "I will tell my friends" it continues. "Go and tell the world,
Asia's people, that God is always here. Share his love, everyone
in unity with Jesus Christ our Lord." This Thai song was selected
by the executive committee of the congress from several songs submitted
from other Asian countries like the Philippines and Indonesia.
Details
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Hong Kong delegation to Asian Youth Day
Over 60 group leaders of the Hong Kong delagation
of participants to the next Asia Youth Day 30 July 5 August 2006
received a mandate from the Bishop of Hong Kong, Bishop Joseph Zen
honorary chairman of the AYD Commission to share the experience
of the faith and refelct on the theme of the family. According to
Hong Kong diocesan bulletin Kong Ko Bao the mandate was given at
the end of a special Mass in Hong Kong cathedral on 13 February.
The group leaders have just completed a five month course on faith
and spirituality started in October. From April to June as the Day
approaches there will be another course of formation.
The Asian Youth Day is organized by the Youth Desk of the
FABC Office for Laity and Family
Hong Kong (Fides Service)
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EUCHARIST:
Theme for 9th FABC
Plenary Assembly in 2008
The Eucharist in Asia will be the theme of
the 9th Plenary Assembly of the FABC in 2008. The final formulation
of the theme, however, is still to come. After "Asian Family Towards
a Culture of Integral Life," 8th FABC Plenary theme in Korea 2004,
the Eucharist will be the next focus of deliberations. This follows
the Year of the Eucharist proclaimed by Pope John Paul II for the
universal Church in 2004/2005 and the Synod of Bishops on the same
theme held in Rome October 2005.
Plenary assemblies are the highest decision-making
body of the FABC. They take place every four years. For the 2008
assembly, no place or country has been chosen yet. But the preparations
will start already in May 2006 with a meeting of the different FABC
offices. This will be joint effort of the nine FABC offices under
the leadership of the General Secretary, Archbishop Orlando Quevedo,
of Cotabato.
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Asian Youth Day 2006
in Hong Kong
The fourth Asian Youth Day will be celebrated
from July 28 to August 5, 2006 in Hong Kong. The theme is "Youth,
Hope of Asian Families." Similar to the World Youth Days, Asian
Youth Days are a gathering of young people, this time from all over
Asia. The Youth Desk of the FABC Office of Laity and Family organizes
the event along with Youth Commissions of FABC-member bishops' conferences.
Some 1,000 and more young Asians are expected to attend. Families
from some 33 Hong Kong parishes have already expressed willingness
to accommodate the participants. Past Asian Youth Days were celebrated
in Hua Hin, Thailand (1999), Taipei, Taiwan (2001), and Bangalore,
India (2003). As follow up, a gathering of Asian Youth chaplains
is held after the youth days.
For more information, visit the Asian
Youth Day IV website
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"Seeds of Faith in Asian Youth"
4th Asian Youth Day in Hong Kong
The Fourth Asian Youth Day was celebrated in Hong Kong
from July 30 to August 5, 2006 with some 800 participants from 25 different
countries. The Youth gathering offered beside the Plenary assemblies and common
worship, including Taize vespers also some 25 thematic workshops, mostly using
English but also Mandarin and other languages. The theme of the gathering was
"Youth, Hope of Asian Families" and thus followed the theme of the 8th FABC General
Assembly "The Asian Family- Toward a Culture of Integral Life" which was celebrated
August 2004 in Daejeon, Korea.
A Final Statement reflects not only the experiences of the young people in
these days but also gives insights and lists challenges to conclude
that "we believe that there are seeds of faith in Asian Youth."
If "this faith is nurtured well, they can truly be a hope of the
Asian family."
The Asian Youth day was organized by the Youth Desk of the FABC Office of Laity and Family
under the direction of Mrs. Joy Candelaria in close cooperation with the diocese of Hong Kong.
Some 240 of the participants came from this diocese which hosted the young people on arrival
in their families and parishes as a first step in the common experience of the Youth Day. The
meeting also underlined in a special way the importance of Inter-religious Dialogue within
the Asian communities and families.
Statement
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Thailand Mission Congress
Towards the Asian Mission Congress
A national mission congress for Thailand will be celebrated from Aug 11-12 at the St Joseph's School in Samphran, Nakhon Pathom. The congress is part of a year of evangelization for Thailand in preparation for the FABC organized Asian Mission Congress to be celebrated October 19-22 in Chiang Mai.
The theme of the national congress is the same for the Asian congress, "Telling the Story of Jesus in Asia."
The national congress expects some 300 participants from the dioceses but includes also a youth gathering with some 1,000 young people as well as other youth involved in the different activities.
The gathering will also includes cultural activities and presentation on the history of the catholic Church in the country. The theme song of the Asian congress which was composed by a Thai seminarian will be the theme song for the national congress this August.
The Church in Thailand is altogether some 300,000 Catholics in 10 dioceses out of a total population of 10 million.
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Seminar on Christian Unity
A seminar on 'The Search for Christian Unity: Where We Stand Today" is taking place in Seoul, Korea from July 17-21. The event, jointly organized by the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue of the FABC, aims "to provide an opportunity for Asian bishops and others working in the field to reflect on the realities of ecumenical relations in Asian countries, and to develop effective pastoral approaches."
This is part of a series of seminars the Pontifical Council is organizing on various themes associated with ecumenism. The first two seminars (Nairobi and Dakar) "aimed at presenting the principles of ecumenism and motivating participants to respond to the complex ecumenical situation" on the continent of Africa. Another seminar in Sao Paulo, Brazil September 2005 "focused on Pentecostalism and its growth in Brazil."
This year in Seoul, the seminar is "timed to coincide with the World Methodist Conference to be held there from July 20 to 24. At this conference, it is expected that the Methodist Churches will adopt the Joint Declaration on Justification agreed upon between the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation in 1999, and a solemn celebration of the Word of God will mark this extended agreement to be signed in the presence of the Pontifical Council President Cardinal Walter Kasper and Reverend Ismael Noko, secretary general of the Lutheran World Federation.
A similar seminar is also foreseen in cooperation with the FABC-Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for February 7-11, 2007 in Manila.
back to top
Social Communication Resources
The FABC-Office of Social Communication has opened
a new "Resources" column in its section in the FABC website presenting
full texts of papers produced by the office for different meetings
and occasions. They are dealing with Church documents as well as
Communication Theology as a new field of study and Communications
spirituality and the communication dimension of Christianity. A
research on "Texting God: Religion and SMS in the Philippines" which
was presented at the "Media, Religion and Culture" Conference in
Sigtuna Sweden July 6-9, 2006 is also included. All texts are presented
as material for study and reflection but not for publication without
due permission.
back to top
Academic
Papers for FABC Documentation Centre
In the course of 36 years of existence of the FABC,
quite some studies have been made about the considerations, activities
and life of the Federation. The new FABC Documentation Centre in
Bangkok aims to have a complete collection of all papers especially
Masteral and Doctoral theses written about the FABC. We would like
to ask our readers and friends to inform us about any such paper,
publication or thesis so that we can possibly secure a copy for
the center in Bangkok. Please contact the FABC-Office of Social
Communication at fabcosc@gmail.com
back to top
AsIPA
General Assembly in November
AsIPA, the “Asian Integrated Pastoral Approach
initiative of the Office of Laity and Family of the FABC, will have
their fourth general assembly Nov 8 to 15, 2006 in Trivandrum, India.
The theme of the assembly will be SCC's/BEC's towards a Church of
Communion.” The conference seeks to study how the Integrated
Pastoral Approach can strengthen the Church as communion, which
effective steps are to be taken for nurturing small Christian communities
and especially how to live the Eucharist and the sacraments in small
Christian communities. The meeting is also supposed to discover
effective structures and plans for exchange and sharing of resources.
Two email addresses have been created for further
contacts and informations: asipa2006@yahoo.com and asipaassembly@rediff.com
More
Pontifical Mission Societies
Taiwan call for full participation in First Asian Mission Congress
The national office for the Pontifical Mission
Societies in Taiwan has urged Catholics in Asia to take an active
part in the First Asian Mission Congress to be held in Chiang Mai
diocese in Thailand 18-22 October on the theme “Telling the
Story of Jesus in Asia. ” According to Christian Life Weekly,
issued by Taipei diocese, the Congress will culminate with the celebration
of Mission Sunday on 22 October. The Congress will have four principal
goals: share the joy of faith in Christ; celebrate evangelization
of Asians through real life; promote better knowledge of the Ad
Gentes decree issued by Vatican II; foster new a lively evangelization.
The Pontifical Mission Societies in Taiwan encourage bishops, priests,
religious and lay people, young people especially, to take an active
part in the Congress signing up for it. Each diocese will be represented
by at least 3 delegates. (Agenzia Fides)
Seminar for Bishops on Priests-in-Difficulty Planned
The FABC Office of Clergy plans to hold a Seminar
for Bishops on "Dealing with Priests-in-Difficulty" September
3-6 in Taipei, Taiwan. In order to prepare for this seminar Executive
Secretary, Fr Lawrence Pinto, calls on Chairmen Bishops of national
commissions for Clergy and Religious to get in touch with the Clergy
office at: MSIJ Bldg Pinto Valley, Kavoor Post, Mangalore, Karnataka
575015 Tel/Fax: 0824 248 3895 Email: fabclpinto@yahoo.co.uk
back to top
The Churches in Asia
“The Churches in Asia” is the title
of a new book related to FABC. It is the English edition of a German
book published by the former director (1979-2001) of the Missiological
Institute of Missio Aachen, Dr Georg Evers. Over the years, he has
been at many FABC conferences especially cooperating with the FABC
Office of Theological Concerns. Evers’ book presents reports
on all member countries of the FABC and refers, after a short historical
overview especially to developments in the last 50 years. The new
publication is of great help for a first orientation and deeper
understanding of Church-related developments in different Asian
countries.
More
back to top
Theme
Song for Asian Mission Congress
A theme song for the Asian Mission Congress was
composed by Seminarian Booncharat from the Lux Mundi National Major
Seminary in Thailand. The lyric is based beside others on scriptural
texts from The Magnificat (Lk 1:47) and the call of the apostles
(Jn 1:43-49). "My Heart fills with joy" the song starts and "I will
tell my friends" it continues. "Go and tell the world, Asia's people,
that God is always here. Share his love, everyone in unity with
Jesus Christ our Lord." This Thai song was selected by the executive
committee of the congress from several songs submitted from other
Asian countries like the Philippines and Indonesia.
Details
back to top
Hong Kong delegation to Asian Youth Day
Over 60 group leaders of the Hong Kong delagation of participants to the next Asia Youth Day
30 July 5 August 2006 received a mandate from the Bishop of Hong Kong, Bishop Joseph Zen honorary
chairman of the AYD Commission to share the experience of the faith and refelct on the theme of the family.
According to Hong Kong diocesan bulletin Kong Ko Bao the mandate was given at the end of a special Mass in
Hong Kong cathedral on 13 February. The group leaders have just completed a five month course on faith
and spirituality started in October. From April to June as the Day approaches there will be another course
of formation.
The Asian Youth Day is organized by the Youth Desk of the FABC Office for Laity and Family
Hong Kong (Fides Service)
back to top
EUCHARIST: Theme for 9th FABC
Plenary Assembly in 2008
The Eucharist in Asia will be the theme of the 9th Plenary Assembly of the FABC in 2008.
The final formulation of the theme, however, is still to come. After "Asian Family Towards
a Culture of Integral Life," 8th FABC Plenary theme in Korea 2004, the Eucharist will be
the next focus of deliberations. This follows the Year of the Eucharist proclaimed by Pope
John Paul II for the universal Church in 2004/2005 and the Synod of Bishops on the same theme
held in Rome October 2005.
Plenary assemblies are the highest decision-making body of the FABC. They take place
every four years. For the 2008 assembly, no place or country has been chosen yet. But
the preparations will start already in May 2006 with a meeting of the different FABC offices.
This will be joint effort of the nine FABC offices under the leadership of the General Secretary,
Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, of Cotabato.
back to top
Asian Youth Day 2006 in Hong Kong
The fourth Asian Youth Day will be celebrated from July 28 to August 5, 2006 in Hong Kong.
The theme is "Youth, Hope of Asian Families." Similar to the World Youth Days, Asian Youth
Days are a gathering of young people, this time from all over Asia. The Youth Desk of the
FABC Office of Laity and Family organizes the event along with Youth Commissions of FABC-member
bishops' conferences. Some 1,000 and more young Asians are expected to attend. Families from
some 33 Hong Kong parishes have already expressed willingness to accommodate the participants.
Past Asian Youth Days were celebrated in Hua Hin, Thailand (1999), Taipei, Taiwan (2001), and
Bangalore, India (2003). As follow up, a gathering of Asian Youth chaplains is held after the
youth days.
For more information, visit the Asian Youth Day IV website
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INDIA Delegates Will Bring Indian Experience To Mission Congress In Thailand
BANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- Indian Church people who attend the upcoming Asian Mission Congress will highlight inculturation and interreligious dialogue in presenting Christ in Asia, according to local Church officials.
"The Church in India is a neighborhood communion, which is constantly in dialogue with other communities and religions," says Father Siluvai Ignaci, coordinator of the Indian delegates to the Asian Mission Congress.
Representatives of India's Latin and two Oriental rites are set to attend the Oct. 18-22 congress on "Telling the story of Jesus in Asia." About 1,000 people from Asia are expected to take part in the event that the Office of Evangelization of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC-OE) is organizing in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand.
Father Ignaci told UCA News Sept. 13 that 40 delegates would represent the Latin Church, the largest of the three rites, while the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches would be represented by about 10 delegates.
The two Oriental-rite Churches, both based in Kerala state, southern India, trace their faith to Saint Thomas the Apostle and follow Syrian Church traditions. They and the Latin rite, largely the product of efforts by European missioners from the 16th century, make up the Indian Catholic Church.
Father Vijay Shantiraj, secretary of the proclamation commission of the Latin rite bishop's conference, told UCA News Sept. 13 that the Indian delegation would present their Church's experience and concerns through cultural programs, sharing and reflections, as well as through papers.
Father Saturnino Dias, FABC-OE executive secretary, based in Goa, western India, said the congress seeks to demonstrate and deepen faith. "It's a kind of reliving the joy of being Christian and coming together to share this faith with one another and with the world," he told UCA News.
Participants will bear witness to the presence of Jesus in the life of families, youth, the elderly, migrants and the poor. Also, people of other religions will share how they perceive Jesus and how knowing Jesus has enriched their lives, Father Dias said.
Workshops on the three full days of the congress, Oct. 19, 20 and 21, are meant to interiorize each day's theme and enable delegates to reflect and share the joy of their faith, he added. The first workshop will discuss the "Story of Jesus in Peoples of Asia," the second will consider the "Story of Jesus in the Religions of Asia," and the last will have participants reflect on the "Story of Jesus in the Cultures of Asia."
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CCA Headquarters Move to Chiang Mai
The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), Protestant counterpart of the FABC, has moved its headquarters from Hong Kong to Chiang Mai, Thailand. The conference will have their own administrative and related buildings in the city, some 800 kms north of Bangkok. Operations start this September from a rented place until CCA's own buildings are ready. FABC and CCA have occasional joint staff meetings as well as activities especially in the field of ecumenical/ interreligious dialogue and human development. The 12th general assembly of the conference in March 2005 decided to move the headquarters to Chiang Mai also because of lower administrative costs there compared to Hong Kong. All CCA offices are located in the main center whereas the FABC works with a decentralized system where the different offices are are spread throughout the continent. CCA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2007.
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Workshops Central To Asian Mission Congress
Workshops are essential part of the Asian Mission Congress in Chiang Mai October 18-22, 2006. Everyday all the participants will have an opportunity to share with others experiences and insights into the themes of the different days. Whereas the question for the first day workshop is about "My personal faith story," the second day asks "What do I appreciate in the followers of other religions?" The third day workshop asks "What practices or traditions in my culture do best express the Gospel of Jesus?" The workshops are destined to make the whole congress more "interactive" and to go beyond general presentations.
Details...
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Indian CBCI Communication Survey 2005 Published
The Commission for Social Communications of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) in New Delhi has published an extensive survey on Catholic communications in India. The project was commissioned by the All-India Bishops' conference during their General Assembly in January 2004 on the theme "Communication." It reflects the opinion of Catholics, bishops, priests, religious and lay about the activities and programs of regional and diocesan communication centers in the country.
The survey is based on questionnaires sent to the different regional and diocesan communication centers as well as to a random selection of individuals. Like all surveys of this kind, they can only indicate directions of working and thinking but have to be consolidated in many more detailed and locally adjusted ways.
The CBCI communication commission has to be congratulated for their work-intensive initiative which can be also an example for the planning of other bishops' conferences within the FABC.
The 384-page book with detailed reports and statistics is available at the CBCI Commission for Social Communication, Delhi, India with email: cbcimo@bol.net.in
more...
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Asian Mission Congress 2006: Second in History
The Asian Mission Congress on October 18-22, 2006 in Chiang Mai, Thailand is the second in the history of the Church in Asia. The first mission congress was celebrated in December 1979 in Manila, Philippines as an international happening on the occasion of the 4th centenary of the archdiocese of Manila. Similar to Chiang Mai, the first congress was "co-sponsored by the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and by the Pontifical Mission Societies" as the message of the delegates from December 7, 1979 says.
"We have been deeply moved by a vision of a new world being born of millions of men and women in the search of new social structures and relationships of a renewed humanity," the 1979 message says. "Many in our Asian countries have in diverse ways met Christ and his Gospel and have been deeply attracted by them."
Unlike the Chiang Mai congress, however, which is composed of delegations from different Asian countries and will be oriented towards faith experience ("Telling the Story of Jesus in Asia") the participants of the Manila congress were mainly Church officials, theologians and especially missiologists. The Manila congress had 10 thematic workshops whose considerations and recommendations are published together with the message of the delegates in volume one of the FABC documents, "For All the Peoples of Asia" (pp. 125-163, Manila (1987): Claretian Publications).
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Indian Dance Group at the Asian Mission Congress
A dance group of the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical Center (NBCLC) of Bangalore will be present at the Asian Mission Congress in Chiang Mai in October. The eight dancers who will be performing under the direction of NBCLC Director, Fr Thomas D'Sa, will enact a ballet on "Telling the Story of Jesus in India." The dance will depict mostly the compassionate ministry of Jesus to the poor and downtrodden and the effects of the continuation of the same mission in India by the Church.
The main reasons to celebrate the Asian Mission Congress given at a dance practice are as follows: The congress is a concrete response to the late Pope John Paul II's call for the 'Eucharist as Principle and Plan of Mission.' Another reson is the 500th anniversary of the birth of St Francis Xavier, patron of mission and missionaries. The third reason is that the year 2006 is the 300th anniversary of the approval of the oratory of Blessed Joseph Vaz, the first indigenous Society of Apostolic Life in India and in Asia (1706-2006).
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Cardinal Sepe Appointed Papal Envoy for Asian Mission Congress
Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Cardinal Crecenzio Sepe as his special envoy to the Asian Mission Congress, which will be held Oct. 19-22 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Cardinal Sepe, the 63-year old archbishop of Naples, is a past prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. This was announced by the Vatican Press Office on August 19, 2006.
Cardinal Ivan Dias, the current prefect of the congregation will also be present during the whole congress.
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21 FABC-related Doctoral Dissertations
Up till now there are at least 21 doctoral dissertations completed at different universities which are partly or completely based on FABC documents and thinking since the foundation of the federation in 1970. A listing compiled by Jesuit Father Jeffrey Chang from the FuJen University in Taipei Taiwan shows that most of them are submitted to Roman universities like the Gregorian but also Urbaniana Universities and Angelicum. There are also works submitted and approved by universities in Washington, Berkeley, Ottawa, Innsbruck, Nijmegen and Muenster.
The present listing, confined to doctoral theses only, contains completed works and does not include works in progress. A listing is also confined to doctoral theses only, a listing of Licentiate and Masteral studies will probably be much longer though it has not been developed yet.
A newly erected FABC Documentation centre in Bangkok will try to acquire all papers to make them available for researchers. Any help in this endeavour will be appreciated.
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Indian Team For Asian Mission Congress Meets Bishops
BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- Thirty-eight delegates chosen from different regions of India to attend the October Asian Mission Congress in Thailand had a meeting with the bishop-members of the Conference of Catholic Church in Bangalore, August 8.
Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi, chairperson for the Congress organized by the of Asian Bishops' Conference, said that he was happy that the delegates were
chosen to represent India at the congress and are enthused to know more about its structure.
'Telling the story of Jesus to the people of Asia' being the theme, the delegates should
prepare themselves to spread the story of Jesus to their fellow country people, the bishop said.
The congress will experience the rich variety of mission activity present in various parts
of the continent and the delegates would learn from each other the ways and means to communicate
the essence of the Gospel in their own milieu, the chairman said.
Chairperson of the CCBI Family Commission, Archbishop Agnelo Gracias, who had recently been
to Valencia as the representative of India, felt that a thorough catechesis of mission animation
should be prepared to animate the entire Church of India at all levels so that the event of the
Congress becomes part and parcel of Christian life of India.
Calling every baptised Christian a missionary, the archbishop advocated dialogue, proclamation
and catechesis as the means to make the Indian Church a Missionary Church.
President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in India, Archbishop Oswald Gracias, spoke of
the need of the Congress and said that the Church in India should organise a National Mission
Congress after the Thailand Asian event.
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Asian Mission Congress Registration Ends September 1
The final date to register for the Asian Mission Congress from
October 18 to 22 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, has been set for September 1. All later
registrations can not be considered any more for organizational reasons. The different
Asian countries have a quota which is handled by the national Pontifical Mission societies
offices and the respective Mission Commissions of the Bishops' Conferences. Registrations
are to be send to the General Secretariat which is with the FABC Office of Evangelization
(e-mail: fabcoph@sancharnet.com). Media personnel has to register with the FABC Office of
Social Communication (e-mail: fabc_osc@pldtdsl.net or fabcosc@gmail.com) for accreditation.
The registration fee for the official delegates is 1000.- Thai Baht (ca. 25.--US $) for all
others 1500.-- Thai Baht.
( For further details see the Asian Mission congress section in the www.fabc.org website! )
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Asian Mission Congress as Faith Experience
The upcoming Asian Mission Congress (October 18-22) will not be an
academic or scholarly conference but it supposed to be an experience of Faith in
Community. The details of the program show that there will
be sharings of personal experiences in different mission related areas like with
elderly and youth with the different Asian religions with the world of Media but
also the fact of Consumerism or the experience of Migrants. There will be workshops
on different themes to give the participants themselves an opportunity to share their
own life and expectations. Every day is under a different heading beginning with
the Story of Jesus in Asian Peoples to be followed by the Story in Religions and
Cultures of Asia up to the Life of the Church. At the conclusion of everyday, also
a "Reflective Theological Synthesis" is foreseen.
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Asian Presentation of the Compedium on the Social Doctrines of the Church
An Asian presentation of the "Compendium of
the Social Doctrine of the Church" is going to be organized by the FABC Office of Human Development
in cooperation with the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in the Vatican. Some 150
invited guests are expected to attend the event to be held at the Pastoral Center of
the Archdiocese of Bangkok in Samphran, in the outskirts of the city, from January
25 to 27, 2007.
Speakers will take up several themes from the document. There are
already special editions of the book printed in different countries like in the
Philippines and India. Translations in Asian languages are also in the working..
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AsIPA: Towards a Church of Communion
The final statement of the fourth AsIPA General Assembly from November 8-15 in Trivandrum concentrates especially on the Asian Church as a church of communion. The church as "a living organism and constantly undergoing transformation" is challenged by the world which rapidly changes value systems.
The church is reflected in the document as a "communion of communities." "Neighborhood communities in each parish gathered around the Gospel in the power of the Spirit," strengthened by the sacraments and especially nourished by them, are in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, and committed to "compassionate and just society."
The document looks back to the experiences of the past as well as present, but also projects into the future with its challenges and concerns. These include the need for "a common responsibility in building a community of communion." To contribute and support responsible leadership in parishes and Church institutions, "interreligious dialogue and ecumenical collaboration should be promoted as well as an ongoing contextualized formation and training."
More
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Interactive Communication for the Church
The old communication paradigm of one-way, top-down communication has no relevance any more today. This is what communication experts told some 40 communication bishops and secretaries from different Asian bishops’ conferences at the 11th annual “FABC-OSC Bishops’ Meet 07” in Taytay, Rizal, Philippines (November 20-25, 2006). The concern of the conference was “Managing Communications for Bishops’ Conferences.”
Asian bishops’ conferences could have a wealth of information and would be more able to respond to the modern communication culture, if they were better organized and equipped to follow the demands of Vatican II and related Church documents for national communication offices of bishops’ conferences and dioceses.
The Final Statement and recommendations repeat, beside others, the admonition of “Aetatis Novae” for proper pastoral planning, and call for media workshops as well as professional and academic training for Church personnel. Bishops and Church leaders are also encouraged to share inspiring experiences and stories with their people.
More...
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Communication in Asian Religions
"Social Communications in Religious Traditions of Asia" is the title of
a new book just published by the FABC-Office of Social Communication.
The new publication documents the papers presented at a Roundtable
organized by the same office in cooperation with the Graduate School of
Philosophy and Religion of Assumption University and the Asian research
Center for Religion and Social Communication (ARC) at St. John's
University both in Bangkok from October.
The Roundtable brought some 20 scholars together and at least two of
them presented papers on the role and understanding of social
communication in different Asian religions like Buddhism, Hinduism,
Islam, Christianity and Confucianism. The initiative was a follow up of
an earlier "Bishops' Institute for Social Communication" (BISCOM) on
"Interreligious Dialogue as Communication" which was held in November
2004 in Bali, Indonesia.
The proceedings of that meeting are presented in volume 6 of the
FABC-OSC Books. The new publication of 191 pages is volume 7 in the
FABC-OSC Books series and published by Logos Divine Word Publications in
Manila.
More...
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AsIPA General Assembly in Trivandrum
The fourth AsIPA General Assembly opened on Nov 8 with some 300 participants in Trivandrum, Kerela, India. The opening Eucharist presided by Archbishop Quintana, apostolic nuncio for India, some 18 bishops from different Asian countries and some 130 concelebrating priests. The following days were filled with reports and reflections about the "Asian integral Pastoral Approach" (AsIPA), an FABC promoted way to Basic Christian Communities and deeper reflection on sacred scripture in daily life. The keynote address of the assembly was given by Bishop Fritz Lobinger from South africa, one of the fathers of the so-called "Lumko" approach to Scripture and action as developed by the Lumko Missiological Institute in South Africa. Over the November 12 weekend, the participants joined different parish communities in their AsIPA experience.
AsIPA is an activity of the FABC Office of Laity and Family based on the South African Lunko approach. It follows the invitation of the FABC General Assembly in Bandung 1990 for "A New Way of Being Church in Asia." Within the Office of Laity and Family, a special AsIPA Desk promotes and organizes AsIPA activities.
More...
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Managing Communication for Bishops' Conferences
The 11th annual meeting of bishops responsible for communications in Asia in their bishops' conferences and their secretaries, "Bishops' Meet 06," will take place from November 20-25 in Taytay, Rizal near Manila.
The theme of the gathering will study the role and work of communication offices of bishops' conferences as prescribed by Church documents and teachings. The actual work of these offices will be discussed and experts will present their findings and proposals for such a mission.
The meeting is organized in cooperation with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and will include a video conference with resource persons from Singapore and the United States.
The first Bishops' Meet took place in Tagaytay City (1996). This is the second time that the annual gathering, which is always in the last full week of November will be again in the Philippines. Other Bishops' Meets were held in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Bishops' Meets are organized by the FABC-Office of Social Communication together with the national communications office of the host country.
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Requirements for Family Catechesis
Family catechesis must be integral despite many modern developments which hinder such an approach. The final statement of a conference on "Family Catechesis" at Assumption University, Bangkok declares.
The meeting of some 30 participants lists special criteria like the following: the need to base such catechesis on a new vision of family which has been elaborated already by the FABC. Family catechesis must aims at instilling Gospel values in such a way that they are also acceptable to non-Christian partners. Further, new catechetical models should be developed so that parents become aware that they themselves are to be the main catechizers within their families. Special programs should be developed for families in special situations like those affected by migration as well as inter-faith families which are in a growing number Asian realities. Basic Christian Communities could help to prepare a positive ground for family catechesis.
The conference at the Bang Na campus of Assumption University was organized by the FABC Office for Education and Student Chaplaincy from October 23-27, 2006.
Details
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Family Catechesis Conference
Family Catechesis is the theme of an international conference organized by the FABC Office for Education and Student Chaplaincies at the Bangna Campus of Assumption University in Bangkok from October 23 to 27, 2006. Some 40 participants from 15 different Asian countries study the situation, the needs and challenges of Family Catechesis in Asia. The meeting follows the considerations of the last FABC General Assembly in Daejeon, Korea, 2004 on the theme of Family in Asia.
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World Mission Magazine With Special Edition
"World Mission", the Asian Catholic Magazine of the Camboni
missionaries of the Philippines has published a special edition
for the Asian Mission Congress. The 80 page edition tries to draw
a portrait of the Church in Asia. At the center of the publication
is an overview with basic data for the different Asian countries
similar to an earlier documentation (1995) of the same magazine.
Additional documentations like the listing of FABC General Assemblies
and articles complement the issue to reflect the Story of Jesus
in Asia.
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Asian Mission Congress on Internet
The proceedings of the AMC in Chiang Mai will be available on the internet during the celebration days. The internet server of the Thai bishop's conference will be made available to stream parts of the proceedings of the congress but also other additional information will be available.
The fabc website will provide a direct link to the Thai server so that those who will not be present in Chiang Mai can also participate. The congress begins in the evening of October 18 and will last till mid-day of October 22, Mission Sunday
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South Asian Broadcasts of Radio Veritas Asia
The South Asian production centers for Radio Veritas Asia
met in New Delhi from January 29 to 31, 2007. The conference was
organized by the Social Communication Office of the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of India in cooperation with the Office of Social Communication
of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conference (FABC).
It
was the first time that a meeting with participants from India,
Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka took place. Archbishop Lawrence
Saldanha (Lahore), the chairman on the FANC Office of Social
Communication presided over the deliberations.
The operation of RVA, beside Vatican Radio are the responsibility
of the FABC. RVA language programs for South Asia include Hindi,
Telugu, Bangali, Tamil, Urdu and Sinhala. All programs are initiated
by the respective regional or national bishops' conferences.
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Asia Reflects on the Compendium of the Social Teachings of the Church
The "Asian Conference on the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church"
jointly organized by the FABC Office of Human Development and the
Vatican-based Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace reflected on the
pastoral consequences of the Compendium released by the Holy See in
October 2004.
In his opening talk,
Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino established the connection between the
Compendium and the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Asia.
The president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said both
documents place "social doctrine at the heart of the Church's mission."
"Part of the preaching of the Gospel" is "taking "interest in human
promotion," proclaiming the "rules for a new coexistence in peace and
justice," and helping create "relations and institutions that are more
human," the prelate said. "Directing our Christian witness in the
social realities of Asia" need to (1) "defend human rights," (2)
"promote the right to development," (3) "forge a good relationship with
nature," and (4) "promote the right to peace." (See Cardinal Martino's July 2005 speech on the Compendium)
Father
Felix Wilfred said Christianity and the social doctrine could
contribute to the "unity of the human family" in Asia, "understanding
and interpretation of modernity," "social justice in our Asian
societies," as well as peace and harmony which Asians value. Speaking
on the "Compendium in Ecclesial and Social Context of Asia" the
theologian and former member of the FABC's theological council pointed
the need for "rootedness" in carrying out the doctrine, paying greater
attention to Asian values, experiences, history and tradition. This
could help Christian Asians "in their double task of being rooted
(inculturation) and at the same time prophetic."
The
meeting held at Bangkok's Archdiocesan Pastoral Center, Samphran,
Thailand from January 25 to 27 saw 155 participants, 147 of whom came
from 17 Asian countries, seven pontifical council officials and the
world president of the international organization of Christian business
executives (UNIAPAC) from Mexico. Some 63 lay people working in
different Church ministries and representatives of the business
community were present along with 20 Cardinals and arch/bishops, and 72
priests and religious.
The three-day
discussions included the themes "Commitment to Building a Civilization
of Love," and "Telling the Story of the God of Love in Asia," with
talks on Asian socio-political and cultural realities, engagement by
the laity as well as implications on pastoral ministry.
The
first step of our commitment to "tell the story of God's love in Asia"
is this "Asian presentation of the Compendium," Brother Anthony Rogers
fsc said. A deeper understanding of the social doctrine of the Church
is in line with "renewing passion for our evangelizing mission," a key
element of the Asian Mission Congress organized by the FABC in October
2006, the executive secretary of the FABC Office of Human Development
said.
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Modern Communication Technologies for Ministry
"Converging
Communications for Ministry in Asia. Modern Communication Technologies
for the Church" will be the theme of the sixth "Bishops' Institute for
Social Communication" (BISCOM VI). The conference will take place from
May 28 to June 2, 2007 at Assumption University Bang Na campus in
Bangkok, Thailand. With a specialization on information and
communication technologies (ICTs), the university is the appropriate
venue for such a meeting. Experts from different Asian countries will
discuss "Religion Online" and pastoral possiblities of digital media
for the Church in Asia.
Sessions on
"Converging Communication in Pastoral Ministry" and "Converging
Journalism," "E-learning" and "Faith Formation through Internet" are
part of the program. Participants will also discuss the modern
communication situation from "Broadcasting to Pod-casting as New Tools
for Old Concerns." "Intenet for Evangelization/ Interreligious
Dialogue" is another theme to be treated. There will be special evening
sessions for bishops who want to learn more about Internet and the
concrete use of this new means.
The
conference is open to all bishops from Asia. If there are places left,
they will be reserved for communication personnel of bishops'
conferences.
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Pentecostals in Asia
The
"Challenges of Pentecostals" is theme of the latest FABC Paper (no.
119) published by the Central Secretariat of the Federation of Asian
Bishops' Conferences in Hong Kong. The study of Divine Word Father John
Mansford Prior who is based in Indonesia gives an overview about the
Pentecostal movements in five Asian countries followed by an overview
of Church responses. He clarifies the terms "church sect" and
"movement" before coming to the pastoral challenges to Asian
Christianity. "The Catholic Church has opted for the poor," he writes
"while the poor has opted for Pentecostalism." He finally pleads for a
"culture of Prophetic Dialogue."
FABC
Papers are written by contributors from the region but do not
necesarily reflect the official stance or policies of FABC or its
member Episcopal conferences. They do try to "bring the thinking of
Asian experts to a wider audience and to develop critical analysis" of
issues facing the Church in Asia.
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Colloquium on Inculturation in India
A
national colloquium on inculturation is organized by the FABC Office of
Evangelization (OE) at the National Biblical, Catechetical and
Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) in Bangalore from January 18 to 22, 2007. The
colloquium aims to provide an opportunity to review past inculturation
efforts in India and to plan for the future. The basis for
considerations will be a source book on the subject titled "Rooting
Faith in Asia" which the Office of Evangelization published in 2005.
The colloquium is seen as a beginning for a series of similar meetings
in different parts of Asia before having an Asia-wide consultation on
the subject.
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FABC in 2007
The
year 2007 is expected to be another year of FABC activities. The
different offices together with the Standing Committee of the
Federation will have a joint planning and coordination meeting at the
end of February in the Documentation Centre in Bangkok. A conference on
the "Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church" jointly organized
by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace together with the FABC
Office for Human Development will open a series of different meetings
of FABC offices on January 25 to 27 in Samphran, Thailand. The other
offices will follow with different events in the course of the year.
Visit FABC Calendar of Events.
Also volume four of "For All the Peoples of Asia" with FABC documents
and statements from 2002 till 2006 will be published this year with
Claretian Publishers, Manila. The volume will have an appendix with
listings of all FABC Papers published up till now.
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Computer Training for Bishops
A
computer training for bishops will be offered as an optional program of
the upcoming “Bishops’ Institute for Social Communication” (BISCOM VI)
at Assumption University in Bangkok from May 28 to June 2. Bishops will
learn how to access and use the different modalities of the Internet.
They will also be introduced to Internet sites helpful for their
ministry and to creating their own online pastoral programs. The
five-day meeting itself organized by the FABC-Office of Social
Communication has the theme “Converging Communications for Ministry in
Asia. Modern Communication Technologies for the Church.” Participation
is for bishops and for personnel of communication offices of bishops’
conferences.
Program and Registration Form
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FABC Offices Meet in Bangkok
The
nine offices of the FABC are scheduled to meet in the new FABC
Documentation Centre in Bangkok from March 1 to 3, 2007 for their
annual planning and coordination. Beside general reporting on their
activities, a review on the follow up from the last FABC General
Assembly on Family (Daejeon, 2004) is foreseen as well as planning for
the ninth FABC Plenary Assembly in February 2009 to be held either in
Bangalore or Manila. The theme of the upcoming Plenary Assembly will be
"Eucharist in Asia."
Along with the FABC
offices, the Standing Committee of the Federation will also meet at the
same time in Bangkok. The Standing Committee is a governing body of the
FABC composed of five bishops elected from different parts of Asia. The
committee meets between sessions of the Central Committee (presidents
of FABC-member conferences) held every two years, and the Plenary
Assemblies (FABC's highest governing body) which meet every four years.
The meeting in Bangkok will also receive and discuss a report on an
upcoming "Vocation Congress for Asia" proposed by Serra International.
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FABC Assistant Secretary General
Visits India
Fr
Ray O'Toole's first trip to India in December 2006 as FABC assistant
secretary general included visits to Goa where the FABC Office of
Evangelization is stationed, to Benaulim where Blessed Joseph Vaz was
born, to Ranchi where he attended the consecration of the new Cathderal
there, and to Mumbai where he joined the installation of Archbishop
Oswald Gracias. Fr Ray assumed the FABC post in late 2005.
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Dialogue in Moral and Religious
Formation in Education
The
FABC Office of Education and Student Chaplaincy will hold a meeting
titled "Empowerment of the Youth: The Evangelizers in Asia" in 2007.
This follows its dialogue and values promotion series beginning with
the "Module Making for Dialogue with Islam" conference in Manila, 2005
and the "Catholicism Encountering Confucianism, Taoism and Folk
Religiosity" conference in Taipei, 2006. After the youth conference,
the office plans to gather all "agents of dialogue" in a single
congress together with Assumption University in Bangkok, and the
Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila. These efforts aim for
moral formation as the mission and essential dynamics of all
educational initiatives and programs in Asia.
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FABC in Central Asia
The Assistant General Secretary of the FABC, Fr.
Raymond O'Toole, SFM, was invited to a meeting of the Central Asia
Bishops and Ordinaries in Tashkent on March 5 and 6, 2007. It was
an occasion to familiarize with each other and to further develop
the relations between Central Asia and the FABC. Central Asia is
considered and accepted as part of the FABC since the Asian Synod
in Rome 1998 where also Central Asia was present. Though many Catholics
in this former Soviet coutries are of European origin, there is
a strong feeling of being part of Asia.
More
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Colloquium on Inculturation in India
A national colloquium on Inculturation is going
to be organized by the FABC Office of Evangelization from May 27
to 31, 2007 at the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical
Centre (NBCLC) in Bangalore. The centre itself and the commission
for proclamation of the Latin Rite Conference of Catholic Bishops
of India (CCBI) will be co-sponsors of the conference. Delegates
from the different regions of the country and representatives of
Episcopal commissions toA national colloquium on Inculturation is
going to be organized by the FABC Office of Evangelization from
May 27 to 31, 2007 at the National Biblical Catechetical and Liturgical
Centre (NBCLC) in Bangalore. The centre itself and the commission
for proclamation of the Latin Rite Conference of Catholic Bishops
of India (CCBI) will be co-sponsors of the conference. Delegates
from the different regions of the country and representatives of
Episcopal commissions together with their bishops are expected as
participants. The colloquium aims to provide an opportunity to review
past inculturation efforts in India and to plan for the future.
The conference is seen as the beginning and testing ground for a
series of similar meetings in other parts of Asia.gether with their
bishops are expected as participants. The colloquium aims to provide
an opportunity to review past inculturation efforts in India and
to plan for the future. The conference is seen as the beginning
and testing ground for a series of similar meetings in other parts
of Asia.
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Book on "Asian Mission Congress"
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A book with the proceedings of the Asian Mission Congress in Chiang Mai,
Thailand October 18-22, 2006 will be published under the title "Telling the Story of Jesus in Asia: A Celebration of Faith and Life at the First
Asian Mission Congress." Fr Saturnino Dias, executive secretary of the FABC Office of Evangelization, will be the main editor and publisher is
Asian Trading Corporation in Bangalore. Along with the transcripts of talks given at the congress, the book will also contain a special
colored picture section with the highlights of the event. A DVD on the mission congress will be released at a later stage. All this should
help enable people at the national or local levels to prepare similar congresses.
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FABC Offices' Coordination
The nine offices of the FABC are studying their purposes and goals
to coordinate and streamline their activities and perspectives. The new initiative shall
lead to a reformulation of their individual terms of reference, and provide better
coordination. Some of these offices exist almost since the beginning of the Federation
while others are of very recent origin. Therefore, a more clear restructuring shall be
promoted. The considerations of the different offices are to be studied by a
special coordinating committee and will be discussed at a special FABC offices'
meeting in the very first days of September 2007.
OLF
Women's Desk holds Second South Asia Meeting on Women, Launches
Book on Women
The Women's Desk of the FABC-Office of Laity and Family organized
the second South Asian Meeting on Women in New Delhi, India April 16-21, 2007.
Present where four bishops, 42 women delegates and three priests representing
five countries of South Asia. After five days of prayerful reflection, sharing and
exposure encounter, the participants put forward six recommendations including
setting up of a Women's Desk or Commission at the national, diocesan and parish
levels. See Final Statement
At the closing Eucharist on April 20, the same FABC office
launched the book titled "Discipleship of Asian Women at the
Service of Life" in the presence of Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, archbishop of
Ranchi, India.
First Catholic Bishop of Nepal
Pope Benedict XVI raised the Apostolic Prefecture of Nepal to the
status of Apostolic Vicariate and appointed Msgr Anthony Francis Sharma, sj as Vicar
Apostolic and elevated him to the rank of Bishop. The Episcopal ordination took place
on May 5 at Assumption Church in Kathmandu.
Msgr. Sharma has been head of the Church in Nepal since
1984, first as Ecclesiastical Superior, when Nepal was made
a Missio Sui Iuris, then as Prefect Apostolic when the Church
was raised to the status of Apostolic Prefecture in 1997, and
now as Vicar Apostolic and Bishop.
Pastoral Challenges for Families in Asia
"Approaches to the Challenges in Pastoral Care for Families" is
the theme of an FABC "Bishops' Institute for Lay Apostolate" (BILA) to be held in
Pattaya, Thailand from June 11-16. The conference is organized by the FABC Office
of Laity and Family . Lay people will be invited to share their experiences in
inter-faith marriage, divorce, migrant workers and similar situations to see how
SCCs (Small Christian Communities) can be an instrument of pastoral care and
support. The interest of youth in family issues expressed at the 2006 Asian
Youth Day in Hong Kong will be studied as well.
Pastoral Challenges for Families in Asia
"Approaches to the Challenges in Pastoral Care for Families" is
the theme of an FABC "Bishops' Institute for Lay Apostolate" (BILA) to be held in
Pattaya, Thailand from June 11-16. The conference is organized by the FABC Office
of Laity and Family . Lay people will be invited to share their experiences in
inter-faith marriage, divorce, migrant workers and similar situations to see how
SCCs (Small Christian Communities) can be an instrument of pastoral care and
support. The interest of youth in family issues expressed at the 2006 Asian
Youth Day in Hong Kong will be studied as well.
MA Theology Major in Social/Pastoral Communication, First Semester 2007-08
The MA Theology major in social/pastoral communication
program at the Pontifical University
of Santo Tomas, Manila will offer in June “Introduction
to Social Communication,” “Faith and Film” and “Pastoral Communication
I” beside other related courses. The graduate program started
in the school year 2001-2002.
The Pastoral Communication studies can also
be combined with any licentiate study in the Pontifical Theological
Faculty of the university.
FABC Theology Documents in one Volume
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All documents elaborated by the former Theological Advisory
Commission (1986-1992), presently the Office of Theological Concerns, of the FABC are
now available in one volume entitled "Sprouts of Theology from the Asian Soil." The
book contains all documents of the office from its beginnings with the first document
released in 1987. The 418-page book is published by Claretians Publications in
Bangalore, India and also available from Claretian Communications in Manila,
Philippines. The book is edited by Redemptorist Father Vimal Tirimanna, executive
secretary of the FABC-Office of Theological Concerns.
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FABC Documents on Women Concerns
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The documents and presentations from the first three "Bishops'
Institutes for Lay Apostolate" (BILA) on Women are now available in one volume under
the title "Discipleship of Asian Women and the Service of Life." The three
meetings were organized by the Women's Desk of the FABC Office of Laity and Family (OLF)
in 1995, 1998 and 2001. The objectives of these meetings were: "(1) to articulate
women's theological reflection rooted in life, (2) to encourage theologians to
integrate women's God experience into theological reflection, (3) to contribute towards
a more holistic development of Asian theology." Editor of the 261-pages volume is
Virginia Saldanha, executive secretary of the FABC-OLF. She is concurrently
responsible for the Women's desk of this office. The book is published by the
Claretians in Bangalore and also available with Claretians in Manila.
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