To live the faith the Church in Asia must engage in missionary action, says Bishop Menamparampil
For the Indian bishop the many communities scattered around the continent are called to announce the Gospel with “dauntless courage”. And the “spiritual support of our mission is the Eucharist,” Bishop Menamparampil explained for it brings us to announce Christ “with unlimited confidence, contributing to the transformation of our society and the shaping of its future.”
In his address the bishop of Guwahati said the Eucharist and the Word of God “are the source of our unfailing strength.” This in turn opens such communities to the many challenges of the continent’s realities of today.
The relationship to Asia’s ancient traditions, the dialogue with religions that have inhabited the continent’s many countries for centuries, the fight against intolerance, persecution and discrimination, and help that can be provided to the poor are challenges that can be met without fear by “drawing strength from Jesus and the Eucharist.”
The new Christian martyrs, those who have fallen to violence in India, Pakistan or Vietnam, and all those who suffer poverty and discrimination in many of Asia’s nations need a strong Church, one that is prepared to bear witness.
For Mgr Menamparampil this means that the continent’s Christian communities must educate people for “a deep personal faith” and for an “experience of God that is real and sincere, in which words turn into facts, and where people can endure common causes.”
For the Indian prelate, evangelisation and Christianity’s presence in Asia go hand in hand.
Only “people who are happy and have a deep religiosity” can be heard by the many peoples of the continent. The Church’s mission in Asia is in “their safe hands.”
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