Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Chiang Mai (Fides Service) - The 1st Asian Congress came to a close in an atmosphere of general satisfaction. The final day, Sunday 22 October, Mission Sunday, focused on the last testimonials and the closing Mass presided by Papal Envoy Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe.
The morning reserved the last moments to listening to experiences. It was the host, Fr Niphot Thienvitharn, director of Chiang Mai Diocesan Social Action Centre who told the delegates about mission experience in the diocese of Chiang Mai. The presence of Tribals of different language and culture from the Thai majority means that every day the diocese is faced with matters of inculturation. Fr. Niphot spoke about the efforts made by his staff to understand better the culture of the different Tribes, seeking at the same time to suggest paths and directions for evangelisation. The task is not a simple one. It is also necessary to tackle the problem of a continual exodus of young people who choose to leave mountain village life for the cities, attracted by modernity and an easier life.
Before the Eucharistic Celebration there was time to reach the first temporary conclusions, operation coordinated by Bishop Orlando Quevedo. As secretary general of FABC he must nurture the great hopes the Congress raised in the representatives of the Churches of Asia. The orientations and priorities adopted by FABC focussed on three areas of concern: the Story of Jesus in personal life, the Story of Jesus in other religions the Story of Jesus in the cultures of Asia.
At the personal level the Congress pinpointed the need for believers to be attentive listeners to the story of Jesus narrated in the Sacred Scriptures, and besides listening to help write new pages in this narration. Our life, our attention to the Gospel is the continuation, following the Acts of the Apostles, of the narration of the mystery of God at work in the peoples of Asia especially in those who suffer, such as the poor, the marginalised, migrant workers, the sick, woman and children. Promote more participation of the laity especially the youth who are the future of the Church in Asia.
With regard to the story of Jesus in peoples of other faiths, the participants stressed the need to strive for better reciprocal understanding in order to recognise seeds of the Word present in other religious traditions; develop in education and formation institutes, especially seminaries, such positive forms of understanding and respect towards other religions; offer more effect pastoral care for those in mixed marriages and other inter-religious situations.
In the area of Story of Jesus in the cultures of Asia the participants vowed to integrate positive cultural values of Asia s mentioned in Ecclesia in Asia into Christian living, personal and collective and all the more so when such values are being eroded by consumerism, materialism and other forces with the support of the media and the market; promote a culture of service, compassion, disciplined life, meditation, silence, simplicity, reconciliation and harmony; take concrete steps to integrate local festivals and cultural forms of expression such as dance and music, art and architecture; introduce with proper catechesis inculturation at all levels of lie to effectively present the Asian face of Jesus. The final call was to the individual Bishops’ Conferences to organise national/regional Mission Congresses to promote a new sense of mission of telling the Story of Jesus in an Asian way to the people of Asia. (M.R.) (Agenzia Fides 23/10/2006; righe 40, parole 547)
