Thai Church talks evangelisation and modern world
Samphran (AsiaNews) Forty years after the Second Vatican Council, the Bishops' Conference of Thailand has organised a seminar on the "Thai Church in the modern world and the Gaudium et Spes", the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.
The seminar, which is in its 24th edition, was organised for the priests of two archdioceses and eight dioceses. It was held October 17-21 at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Centre and focused on evangelisation activities, what has been achieved over the past five years, clergy training and unity amongst the country's priests.
Card Michael Michai Kitbunchu, chairman of the Bishops' Conference, led the sessions. In his opening speech, he told participants that "the universal Church under the Pope has contributed in a sincere fashion to the well-being of the people of God throughout the world thanks to its social organisations and pastoral, educational and evangelisation activities.
The Thai Church has adapted to the complexities of the modern world thanks to the guidelines laid down at the Second Vatican Council, he noted.
On the occasion of Jubilee in 2000, the Thai Church set out its ten-year pastoral programme so that announcing the Good News can bear fruit and be fully experienced, the Cardinal said.
He further urged those present to always support the clergy and the missions.
During the sessions it became clear that there is an estrangement between Catholics and their faith, especially among the young. One of the proposed solutions calls for supporting the best catechists to create a livelier Church, teach catechism to children, get the laity involved in the life of the community, encourage youth to take part in the mass, and improve cooperation between the Church on the one hand and teachers and parents on the other.
The growing economic gap between rich and poor, and the rising materialism and consumerism in society were also discussed because they can affect faith in God.
Participants were urged to spur priests to help families that centre their life on prayer, and to use modern means of communication for the purpose of evangelisation.
In addition to Cardinal Kitbunchu, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Apostolic Nuncio, also spoke. He stressed the importance for the Thai Church to study and apply the Gaudium et Spes. Fr Chai Khantahome, a Redemptorist priest, cited passages from the Letter to the Philippians and the Gospel of Matthew to highlight the four pastoral, ethical, spiritual, and social features that a priest must have in order to be a leader and a role model. He must be a prophet that denounces the failings of society, proclaims the kingdom of God, holds a sound faith and imitates Christ.
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