Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangkok (Agenzia Fides) – Bishops and theologians of various Asian countries have been busily working on the text of the Instrumentum Laboris, in preparation for the upcoming 9th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), which will be held in Manila (Philippines), August 10-16, 2009. The theme of the Assembly, which will be attended by the Bishops and delegations from all over Asia, will be “Living the Eucharist in Asia.” The Assembly, which is held every 4 years, is an important moment of exchanging experiences and planning for the Church in Asia.
The final Instrumentum Laboris, used as basis for the workshops in the FABC Assembly, will be completed in the next few days. The document acknowledges the indications expressed by Benedict XVI on the Eucharist (especially those from the Synod of Bishops), and the encyclicals “Deus Caritas Est” and “Caritas in Veritate.”
The text is divided into several chapters: “Living in Community," "Living in Faith," "Living in Hope," "Living in Love," and "Living in Mission," which address the various challenges facing the Church in Asia and the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church. The Assembly will be preceded by a preparatory seminar sponsored by the FABC, with reflection on various theological and pastoral texts.
The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) is a voluntary association of episcopal conferences in South, Southeast, East and Central Asia, established with the approval of the Holy See. Its purpose is to foster among its members solidarity and co-responsibility for the welfare of Church and society in Asia, and to promote and defend whatever is for the greater good. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/7/2009)
