Kathmandu synodality forum: Indigenous people, ‘not the periphery but at the heart of the Church’
Lay people and men and women of the cloth from 13 Asian countries and many indigenous communities met in Nepal last month at the initiative of the FABC. On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the forum’s final statement was released. “There remains an urgent need for the Church to amplify Indigenous voices”, it reads, for Indigenous wisdom offers sociocultural resources and ways for a relationship with creation that combine “faith, creation, and human responsibility.”
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – The Asian Forum on Celebrating Synodality and Indigenous Living Traditions in the Church in Asia was held in Kathmandu (Nepal) from 10 to 16 November 2024 to celebrate “Synodality and Indigenous Living Traditions in the Church in Asia”.
Various groups and individuals – lay people, priests, men and women religious, and bishops – belonging the Network of Ministries among Indigenous Peoples in Asia (NMAIPA) came together for the forum.
Participants came from 13 Asian countries[i] and various Indigenous communities,[ii] brought together by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC).
Yesterday, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Forum released its final statement.
“We have resolved to continue to journey on the path of a synodal Church with a preferential option for Indigenous Peoples, with renewed hope and determination to celebrate and safeguard Indigenous living traditions within the local Churches in Asia,” the press release reads.
The forum in Nepal noted the need to provide continuity to the reflection that led to the establishment of the ROOTS network-Catholic Network Among Indigenous Peoples of Asia.
“The network plans to bring together institutions and individuals interested in working for the well-being of Indigenous People towards deeper study, theological and pastoral reflection, and concerted action,” writes Fr George Plathottam, on behalf of the organising committee. “The Network is currently drawing up a detailed action plan – including organising training leaders in transformative community-based leadership”.
Participants were divided into four study groups “to continue study and reflection on major issues affecting the Indigenous Peoples of Asia.” The event provided an opportunity to celebrate "Indigenous wisdom", which combines ancient practices with the values of sharing, acceptance, co-responsibility and healing.
“We acknowledge their rich cultural heritage in the ongoing journey of negotiating, resisting and liberating themselves from all forms of discrimination and marginalization, genocide and violence in society, occasioned by class and caste,” the statement goes onto say.
Only by recognising these struggles and indigenous traditions can people walk into the future, guided by the Word of God and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit “in response to the Church’s call to synodality that foregrounds the importance of inclusion and discernment,” which was the focus of the Synod last October in Rome.
Why celebrate synodality and indigenous traditions together in the Churches of Asia? “We acknowledged the fact that while 63% of Christians worldwide and 73% of Asian Christians are Indigenous,” it “is imperative to recognize that Indigenous Peoples are not on the periphery but at the heart of the Church.”
In fact, the practices and traditions of Indigenous peoples are very close to those of the peoples present in the Scriptures, making their own “the foundational elements of land, lineage, and the covenant.”
In fact, even for the tribes in the Bible, land represents a central theme of identity. “This connection is further reflected in God’s covenant to Noah (Gen 8:20-9:17), which, like Indigenous traditions, extends beyond humanity to embrace all of creation,” the statement says.
These traits must raise questions about the relationship between the Church in Asia and Indigenous traditions, which to this day reflect “our collective failures to promptly and proactively respond to the struggles of Indigenous communities in Asia.”
“[T]here remains an urgent need for the Church to amplify Indigenous voices, learn from their socio-cultural resources, their ancient wisdom, folk media, healing systems with their ‘native forms of expression in song, dance, rituals, gestures and symbols’”. For the same reason, “Indigenous governance systems, which inherently practices synodality naturally, offer valuable insights into communal discernment by consensus and shared leadership.”
With this mind, and inspired by the encyclical Laudato Si', participants to the Kathmandu Forum call on the Church, parishes and dioceses to commit themselves to promote “environmental guardianship by advocating for policies that recognize Indigenous territories as sacred spaces vital to the preservation and promotion of biodiversity and the well-being of future generations.” Thus, “We encourage dioceses and parishes to adopt practices that reflect the interconnectedness of faith, creation, and human responsibility.”
In the synodal journey launched in Asia, special focus was devoted to the "vital" contribution of women, who, in Asia’s Indigenous communities, are “custodians of traditions and guardians of cultures, who play a pivotal role”. In fact, “Their contribution is indispensable to the Church’s mission and it is essential that their voices be heard and their participation is fully acknowledged.”
By the same token, the contributions of young people must also be acknowledged, for they are like “young saplings in a forest" while in “Catholic Indigenous communities in Asia, the lay faithful play a crucial role in the life and mission of the Church.”
Finally, the Forum "Celebrating Synodality and Indigenous Life Traditions in the Church in Asia" issued some recommendations, divided in three parts: “Synodality as a Natural Way of Life in Indigenous Cultures: Networking and Communication: [. . .] Pathways for Evangelization, Catechesis, Liturgy, and Research: [. . .] Issues to be Addressed”.
This list of concerns is needed to embrace the "ancestral wisdom" (cf. Querida Amazonia) of Indigenous cultures while striving to build a Church and a world that reflect the kingdom of God where all can enjoy the “fullness of life, with justice, respect, and shared humanity.”
[i] Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
[ii] Ahka, Ati, Ayta, Dusun Bundu, Fataluku, Gurung, Hmong, Jarai, Kadazan, Kasi, Kayan, Kharias, Mao, Oraon, Paskari, Pulangiyēn, Santal, Subanen, Tamang, Tangkhul and Tetum.
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29/03/2023 19:12
