ASIA/MALAYSIA - The mission of the Church "on a synodal journey": towards the pastoral assembly in peninsular Malaysia

Friday, 31 March 2023 evangelization   synodality   mission  

Kuala Lumpur (Agenzia Fides) - The diocesan pastoral assembly of ecclesial realities in Peninsular Malaysia - which is being prepared and will be held between summer and autumn 2023 - will talk about formation, the need to listen to the "cry of the earth" and the "cry of the poor", of inculturation and dialogue, aware that Catholic communities are called to "trace new paths". The main lines of reflection and discussion concern evangelization and the mission of the Church, indicated the members of the team in charge of preparing the meeting, formed by the bishops and a small number of representatives of the three dioceses of peninsular Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Malacca-Johore). This assembly is an integral part of the "synodal journey" and of a "spirituality of synodality" which must be cultivated at all levels of the Church. This year's Pastoral Assembly will also incorporate the themes that emerged from the recent Assembly of Asian Delegates for the Synod on Synodality (see Fides 15/3/2023), such as: inclusion, responsibility, prayer, care for the environment, and the call to become missionary disciples.
"We must continue to emphasize family, community, human ecology and relations with society in the light of the synodal process. Everything is linked, in the sign of the continuity of the journey of the Malaysian Church", observed Msgr. Julian Leow, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur
"The process of bringing our Churches closer together will include and refer to the synodal journey, as proposed by Pope Francis. We need a 'common impetus' in this journey", added Bishop Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang.
"The pastoral assembly of our dioceses, firstly, has the merit of bringing people together so that they can walk together and experience communion and community. Secondly, we lead the faithful to rediscover the common priesthood, participation in the priesthood of Christ by virtue of baptism, which unites us all. The approach and method of discussion in the assembly can be that of "spiritual conversation", which makes us perceive the general movement of the Spirit. It can lead to awareness of the need for spiritual conversion at all levels. The important thing is to allow oneself to be led by the Holy Spirit,” concluded Msgr. Bernard Paul, Bishop of Malacca-Johore. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 31/3/2023)


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