Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Agenzia Fides) – Nearly 100 bishops gathered in Sydney for the four-yearly assembly of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO), have been told about the importance of taking the message of Christ forward. The conference, which has as its theme “Walking his way, bearing his fruit, living his life”, opened last night with a mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, celebrated by Cardinal George Pell of Sydney, with 83 bishops from across the Pacific region and hundreds of people in attendance. President of the FCBCO Bishop Peter Ingham of Wollongong set the tone for the theme of mission when he preached on the hope of Christ and of the early missionaries who had worked in the Oceania region. “The Church in Oceania received the Gospel from previous generations of Christians and from missionaries coming from overseas whose sacrifices have, by God’s grace, borne much fruit,” he said. In this morning’s opening session, Jesuit theologian and scripture scholar Fr. Brendan Byrne told the assembled bishops about the missionary efforts of the apostle Paul. Following Fr. Brendan Byrne’s address was Fr. Richard Leonard, who spoke of the challenging art of giving homilies. “Preaching is getting harder and harder. We are up against some tough opposition. Whether we like it or not the media in all its styles and ways now forms our congregations about what they listen to, and how they listen,” Fr. Leonard said. The general consensus was that taking the message of Christ forward is the most urgent need for the Church today. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 11/5/2010)
