Colombo (Fides Service) – How to boost communication in families and among families of different nationalities in Asia was the theme of a recent Meeting in Negombo (Sri Lanka), organised by the Commission for Social Communications of the FABC, Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences.
About 30 participants, bishops, diocesan delegates and married couples, discussed the challenges facing Christian families in the field of communications. They agreed that married couples should improve communication in the family and with other families and that this would bring mutual enrichment.
A statement issued at the end of the meeting affirmed: “The family is the person’s first experience of love and communication. Today the family is threatened by the impact of economic and social globalisation and political issues. The bonds which have united our families for centuries in facing material and spiritual difficulties are weakening. ”.
The participants said that the families should be helped to rediscover the Trinitarian dimension of relationships, “the Trinity is reflected in the family”, and also to open to other families even families of different nationalities and in other countries in an attitude of dialogue, listening and sharing experience. The statement said that prayer is the best means of improving communication in the family and among families but it also encouraged the use of modern technology for better contact and sharing.
The participants urge Catholic Bishops’ Conferences throughout Asia to promote activities to increase communication in families and among families to help Catholic families be evangelisers to non Christian families.
(PA) (Fides Service 19/12/2003 lines 26 words 279)