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 News Archive 2008

• FABC Central Committee Meeting 2008
• "Eucharist as Communication" Statement
• FABC Paper no. 122 on "Caring for Priests" Published
• Challenges to Woman
• Evangelizing Mission
  
  
  
  

FABC Central Committee Meeting 2008

A meeting of the Central Committee of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) is in preparation for April 2008 in Bangkok. One of the main points of the agenda is the preparation for the 9th Plenary Assembly of the Federation foreseen for January 2009 in Bangalore, India. Together with the Central Committee also the nine offices of the Federation will meet to report to the Central Committee but also to contribute to the Plenary 2009 with the theme "Living the Eucharist in Asia." The Office of Social Communication has already taken up the theme under communication perspective in the last annual meeting of Asian communication bishops in November. The Office of Education will follow in a similar way in 2008.

The Central Committee of the FABC is composed of the presidents of the member-bishops' conferences.

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"Eucharist as Communication" Statement

The final statement of last year's 12th annual Bishops' Meet November 26-December 1, 2007 in Bangkok on "Eucharist as Communication" is now available. Beside the introduction with general descriptions and insights of the concerns of the meeting, the document lists eleven recommendations. They underline, beside others, the need for a "Eucharistic communication spirituality," the communication dimension of the Eucharist in formation programs, and the promotion of the transforming power of the experience of the /Eucharist as communication/ in ministry and apostolate.

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FABC Paper no. 122 on "Caring for Priests" Published

Caring for Priests was the main theme of a consultation for Asian bishops organized by the FABC Office of Clergy from August 27-31, 2007 in Pattaya, Thailand. The three papers of this meeting are published in this edition of the FABC Papers. Fr Vimal Tirrimana, executive secretary of the FABC of Theological Concerns, writes about "Identity and Vision of Priesthood in the Asian Context." Bishop Vianney Fernando from Kandy, Sri Lanka speaks about "Relational Issues and Problems of Priests Affecting Pastoral Ministry and Priestly Life." Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, omi, the FABC general secretary, reflects about "Ongoing Formation and Helping Measures in Caring for Priests."

FABC Papers are designed to bring the thinking of Asian experts to a wider audience. They are available from the Central Secretariat in Hong Kong but are also listed and made available online via the website of the Union of Catholic Asia News.

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Challenges to Women

"Challenges to Women in the Family in the 21st Century" is the theme of the South-East Asia regional women assembly in Johor Bahru, Malaysia from January 27-February 1, 2008. Participants are coming from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia and the Philippines. Topics include the various challenges of women in the family. The meeting is organized by the FABC Office of Laity and Family.

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Evangelizing Mission

"Relaunching Our Evangelizing Mission" is the title of a new publication of the FABC Office of Evangelization. The 238-page book contains the presentations of a national colloquium organized by the FABC Office for India in the follow up of the FABC-organized "Asian Mission Congress" 2006 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The main concern of the assembly, with representatives from different parts of India, is expressed in the subtitle calling the colloquium "A Renewed Encounter Between Gospel and Cultures in India." The final statement talks about "Rekindling the Fire," about "Culture as a Major Concern," the need for an "Incarnational Spirituality," together with a life-related Inculturation. "Evangelization of Cultures" means, the final statement says beside others, "evangelization of collective consciences of societies by bringing about a revolution of values in the light of the Gospel."
The new book is edited by the former executive secretary of the FABC Office of Evangelization, Fr. Saturnino Dias, and published by Asian Trading Corporation in Bangalore, India.

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