Asian bishops: sacraments and witness for the new evangelisation
Xuan Loc (AsiaNews) - The 10th General Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), is currently underway (11-15 December) in Xuan Loc, southern Vietnam. Some of the points of discussion for the delegates-cardinals, bishops and priests-include thanking foreign missionaries and Vietnamese martyrs for planting the seed of the faith in the country as well as a focus on the importance of the sacraments as a way to reconcile with God and bear witness before those who have not yet met Christ and the Gospel. On Sunday, a solemn Mass will be celebrated in the Diocese of Ho Chi Minh City. "It is a sign of the times," said Mgr Leopoldo Girelli, non permanent representative of the Holy See, that this Church event is being hosted in a socialist country.
About 200 Church representatives from Asia took part in the assembly's opening, including six cardinals, 113 archbishops and bishops, as well as monsignors and priests. Papal envoy Card Oswald Gracias and Mgr Leopoldo Girelli were among the participants.
High ranking Vietnamese government officials also attended the ceremony, including Deputy Interior Minister Pham Dung, who also heads the government's Religious Affairs Committee.
In his address to the assembly, Mr Pham Dung, greeted those present, expressing his government's "appreciation" for the local Catholic Church and its contribution "to the development of our nation, especially to its reform" plans.
Acting as the assembly coordinator FABC Secretary, Card Oswald Gracias explained that the federation is the fruit of the Second Vatican Council, and that this year, it is celebrating its 40th anniversary (1972-2012).
As some local priests noted, for the first time an international Catholic summit is held in socialist Vietnam. This is an opportunity for the country's believers and for all of Asia's Churches to know and help each other.
Noting that the "Church is not involved in politics" but only in "spiritual and pastoral activities," the cardinal stressed the "good relations" between the Holy See and Hanoi.
The FABC was established on 16 November 1972 under the aegis of Paul VI. It includes the Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Ten other countries are also affiliated: Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Siberia (Russia), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and East Timor. In Asia, only 2.9 per cent of its 3.5 billion people are Catholic.
In a time of change, "The challenges faced by the Churches of Asia are this year's topics," the papal envoy said. It is therefore important "to review the mission in light of the Year of Faith and the Synod of Bishops held in October 2012, Card Rosales added.
For the Filipino prelate, Catholics ought to undergo "re-evangelisation" through the sacraments like "baptism, confirmation, Eucharist and confession" because only through reconciliation with God can one reach "peace and happiness of the heart."
Catholics also have to bear "witness" to non-Catholics so that they too can meet and "recognise Jesus".
Archbishop Peter Nguyen Van Nhon, president of the Vietnam Bishops' Council, expressed gratitude toward "foreign missionaries" who played a pioneering role in "bringing the seeds of faith" to the country. The latter was further nourished by "the blood of Vietnamese martyrs" tasked with announcing the Good News. Now it is "our duty to bring it to everyone."
The FABC summit "is a sign of the times," said the non-permanent representative of the Holy See. In fact, Asian countries must play a role in the "new evangelisation" within and without the Church, Mgr Girelli explained. For him, a positive approach to teaching the catechism and "a strong and deep faith" are needed.
In view of this, in his final appeal the prelate said that parishioners are the Gospel's ultimate "witnesses" and this, "in everyone's life."
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23/10/2023 18:59
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