AsIPA 6th General Assembly

The FABC Office of Laity and Family - AsIPA Desk will be holding its 6th General Assembly on October 18-24, 2012 at Chintana Center, Nainamadama, Sri Lanka. The theme of the of the assembly is "Go you are sent forth" (Mt. 10:5) - following Jesus in mission: Small Christian communities serving and ministering.

Click here for details 030212

Message from BISA VIII

The message from the 8th Bishops' Institute of Social Action (BISA VIII) of the FABC Office of Human Development held at Camillian Pastoral Care Centre, Bangkok, Thailand from January 18-24, 2012, is now available. The participants proposed a Pastoral-Theological Programme of Action for Asia. 270112

FABC Secretary General Appointed Pontifical Council Member

The FABC Secretary General, Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, India was appointed member of the Pontifical Council for Social Communication. Cardinal Gracias has been a board member of FABC-Office of Social Communication and the General Body of Radio Veritas Asia from 2002-till 2010. 200112

BITA IV: Re-scheduled

The Bishops’ Institute of Theological Animation (BITA-IV) on “Youth in Asia: Challenges of Fundamentalism and Relativism” is re-scheduled from May 2011 to April 23-27, 2012 and will be held in Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Centre, Sampran, Thailand.

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FABC-OE Seminar for Bishops, Formators and Priests

The FABC Office of Clergy will organize a seminar for Bishops, Formators, and Priests of Asia on "the Contemporary Challenges of Living Priestly Celibacy in the Context of Present Day Crisis in the Church in Asia." The seminar will be held from May 14-19, 2012 at the Assumption University, Bangkok, Thailand.

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Social Networking for Pastoral Ministry

The 16th annual gathering of bishops responsible for communication and their secretaries was held at St. Paul’s Pastoral Centre in Hualien, Taiwan from 14 to 19 November. More than 30 participants came with officials of Radio Veritas Asia, Signis-Asia, and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA). Msgr. Paul Russel, Holy See’s charge d’affairs in Taiwan, was also present. The theme “Social Networking for Pastoral Ministry” was mainly treated through a two-day seminar-workshop Nov 15-16 on the how-to’s of social media e.g., file sharing, microblogging, visual storytelling, and online gaming. This year’s Final Statement lists guideposts on how the Church should engage in social media. In it, the participants stress the importance of creative engagement through collaborative efforts, as well as research. Social media should be placed at the service of FABC’s three-fold dialogue - with the poor, cultures, and religions. More... 081211

Climate Change in Asia: Towards a New Creation

Some 55 participants from 16 Episcopal Conferences in Asia, and 2 associate members of the FABC met in Bangkok on 19-20th Oct. 2011 to discuss "Church Response to the Challenge of Climate Change in Asia: Towards a New Creation."

International experts assisted on the urgency of this issue in the context of the Church’s commitment to protect the integrity of God’s Creation in Asia and leave a meaningful legacy for future generations. One significant decision was to create a Desk in the Central Secretariat of FABC with a competent person to follow up on this urgent issue. The seminar was financially supported by the German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation (MISEREOR). 261011

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FABC Elects New Secretary General

At its October 21 meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, the FABC Central Committee has duly elected Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India as its New Secretary General from January 1, 2012. He succeeds Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, from Philippines as the latter completes two terms of office on December 31, 2011. The duration of Cardinal Gracias' term is 3 years, renewable thereafter. Cardinal Gracias was a board member of FABC-Office of Social Communication for two terms from 2004-2010.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias was born in Mumbai, India on December 24, 1944. He obtained his Doctorate in Canon Law and a Diploma in Jurisprudence in Rome. He was elevated to the position of the Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay 16th September 1997 and on November 23, 2000 the Archbishop of Agra. After the promotion of Cardinal Dias to Rome, he was appointed the Archbishop of Bombay on October 14, 2006. The present Holy Father elevated him to the position of Cardinal on October 17, 2007.

Besides serving many responsible assignments on national and international levels, he is presently serving the following assignments: the Vice Chairman, Vox Clara Committee, Congregation of Sacraments, Rome, Chairman, C.B.C.I. Commission for Law and Public litigation and President, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India 24101

Urgent Invitation for BISA-VIII

The FABC-Office of Human Development is urgently inviting participants from the bishops conferences of Asia for their upcoming 8th Bishops’ Institute of Social Action and to commemorate the office’ 40th years anniversary.

Click here for further details 101011

CLIMATE CHANGE SEMINAR

Global Warming and Climate Change and its Impact on Asia

Challenges and the response of the Church

Jointly organized by FABC Central Secretariat and Misereor, Germany

Venue: Bangkok, 19 and 20 October 2011

click here for further details  101011

Laity Newsletter (July-September 2011) Uploaded

The latest edition of the Laity Newsletter of FABC-OFL is now available.  200911

8th Bishops' Institute for Social Action (BISA VIII) to be held in November

After the special workshop on the challenges of Migrants and Indigenous Peoples in Asia in 26-29 July, the FABC-Office of Human Development (OHD) will hold the eighth "Bishops' Institute for Social Action" (BISA VIII) on November 4-12, 2011 in Thailand. This year marks the 40th anniversary of OHD, and the commemoration of some of the Church's social teachings. BISA VIII will, thus, include re-reading of the Catholic Social Teaching in the context of Asia. To be covered are Rerum Novarum, Quadragesimo Anno, Mater et Magistra, Pacem in Terris, Gaudium et Spes, Populorum Progressio, Octogesima Adveniens, Justice in the world, Laborem Excercens, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, Centesimus Annos, and Caritas in Veritate. For details, please contact OHD.   180711

FABC-OTC New Publication

The Office of Theological Concerns (OTC) of FABC has published a Festschrift entitled "Harvesting from the Asian Soil: Towards an Asian Theology," to mark the 25th anniversary of the Office. The publication is a collection of theological articles from leading theologians on Asian Theology. For details, please contact OTC.   180711

FABC-OHD program for 2011 Uploaded

The program for 2011 of the Office of Human Development of FABC is now available online.   150711

Laity Newsletter (April-June 2011) Uploaded

The latest edition of the Laity Newsletter of FABC-OFL is now available.  010711

New publication from FABC-Office of Laity & Family-Women’s Desk

The Women’s Desk of the FABC-Office of Laity and Family has published the second volume of Discipleship of Asian Women at the Service of Life. The publication documents the different papers presented at the BILA IV on Women and some selected papers from the regional meetings between 2000 and 2010. The book is printed by Claretian publication, Bangalore, India. For further details please contact the FABC-OL. 080611

Final Statement of FABC-OC Recent Seminar Uploaded

The Final Statement of the FABC-Office of Clergy seminar on Bishop as Father, Brother and Friend of Priests is now uploaded. The statement highlights the need for the bishop to accompany his priests by fostering a family atmosphere in the diocese. On-going formation including spiritual and human formation, are also emphasized to enable the bishop to become Father, Brother and Friend to priest as stipulated in Pastores Gregis. 080611

Seminar on the Impact of Pedophilia-Crisis for the Church in Asia

The FABC-Office of Clergy will organize a seminar for Bishops and formators of Asia on the theme: “The Impact of Pedophilia-Crisis on the Church in Asia” from November 14 to 19, 2011 at Assumption University in  Bangkok, Thailand. For more information, contact Fr. Lawrence Pinto, msij at Fax: (+91 824) 2483895 Email: fabclpinto@yahoo.co.uk and fabckavoor@yahoo.com 290411

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FABC Paper No. 133 Available

The FABC Paper No. 133 titled "On Human Being in the Changing Realities of Asia" is now available. The document is edited by Fr. Vimal Tirimanna, CssR , the executive, secretary of the FABC Office of Theological Concerns.  This document is divided into four parts and has the purpose of discussing how the people of Asia encounter God in their  changing contextual realities and calling them to mission. 290411

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ACTS IV ORGANIZED

The fourth gathering of the Asian Conference of Theology Students (ACTS IV) was held from 4-6 April 2011 at the Bangkok Christian Guest House in Bangkok, Thailand. Thirty one (31) students representing the countries from the various denominations and seminaries throughout Asia which are part of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) actively participated. The theme of ACTS IV was: “Praying and Working Together for Unity in the Household of God.” Participants discussed realities and challenges faced by the churches and peoples of the countries. Central issues like theologizing in the Asian context, economic realities, conflict analysis and understanding ecumenical dialogue as an integration of all God’s creation were also discussed. The unifying fellowship in ACTS IV brought the participants to commit themselves to deepen their involvement in ecumenism within their capacity. (full report) 150411

X FABC PLENARY ASSEMBLY

The X FABC Plenary Assembly will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on November 19-23, 2012 as confirmed by FABC Central Committee meeting in January 2011. The theme of the X FABC Plenary Assembly is “FABC at Forty: Responding to the Challenges of Asia”, marking the 40th anniversary of the approval of the FABC Statutes by Pope Paul VI, November 16, 1972. 050411

BITA IV Postponed

The upcoming Bishops’ Institute of Theological Animation (BITA-IV) of the FABC Office of Theological Concern, on Fundamentalism, Relativism and Materialism- Pastoral Responses in our Asian Contexts has been postponed. The meeting coincides with the Ad Limina visit of the intended participants. The precise date is yet to be decided. 280311

Clergy Documents Now Online

The Office of Clergy has released two documents and are now available online: Final Statement of the Seminar on "Paradigm Shift in the Mission and Ministry of the Priest in Asia" (Bangkok, Thailand May 10-15, 2010), and the Final Statement of the Fomrators' Seminar on "Spiritual Formation of Priests" (Bangkok, Thailand November 14-19, 2010). 150111

BITA IV On Christian Discipleship in Asia

The Office of Theological Concern of FABC will be organizing the 4th Bishops’ Institute of Theological Animation (BITA IV) on “Christian Discipleship in Asia: Challenges of Fundamentalism and Relativism-Pastoral Approaches.” The seminar will be held in the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, Baan Phu Waan, Samphran, Thailand on May 2-6, 2011. BITA IV will be exclusive for Asian bishops only and will discuss various pastoral topics relevant to the Asian Church today.

For details please contact the FABC-OTC.

FABC Papers Nos. 131 & 132a Now Online

FABC Papers Nos. 131 & 132a are now available for download. Paper No. 131 titled "A Glimpse of Dialogue in Asia" was released on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the first "Bishops' Institute for Interreligious Affairs" (BIRA). It includes a discussion on "Dialogue in the Early Teachings of FABC." Paper No. 132a on "Word of God in the Life & Mission of the Church" documents the key inputs at the fifth Biblical Congress, which coincided with the third "Bishops' Institute for Biblical Apostolate" (BIBA III) Nov 4-8, 2010 in Pattaya, Thailand. The meeting was organized by the FABC-Office of Evangelization in cooperation with the Catholic Biblical Foundation (CBF) for Asia/Oceania.

FABC-OSC 15th Bishops’ Meet Final Statement Uploaded

The Final Statement of the 15th annual Bishops’ Meet on “Communication Formation for Priestly Ministry in Asia” is now available. The document reflects the proceedings and resolutions of 30 participants from 10 Asian countries comprising Bishops-in-charge for communication along with national communication directors in FABC-member conferences. The group met at the Camilian Pastoral Care Center November 15-20 in Bangkok, Thailand. Guests included Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications in Rome.

The document emphasizes the need for proper communication formation among candidates for priesthood. Communication formation should not be seen as technical training alone, the participants said. Rather, it aims to develop internal dispositions and attitudes reflecting Christ, the perfect communicator. The document also calls Bishops to establish and provide enabling resources and facilities for communication formation.071210

OHD Plan of Action for 2011-2013

The Office of Human Development of FABC organized a consultation and devised a three-year plan of action in the light of “Eucharist in Asia and Caritas in Veritate.” The consultation was held at the St. Gabriel Provincialate, Bangkok, Thailand from October 15-18, 2010 and was attended by 18 delegates from various parts of Asia. Based on the vision, mission and strategies of OHD, the plan of action put special reference to the priority group of Asia, namely: indigenous people, migrants, people under extreme poverty and hunger, as well as peace and non-violence. Reiterated in the plan were “Eucharist in the context of Asia” with special reference to the 14 themes developed by OHD, and the Asian Colloquium on Caritas in Veritate to be held in February 2011. The consultation spelt out the three key responsibilities for OHD in assuming the three-year plan action, namely: animation, dissemination and coordination. 051110

Seminar for Bishops of Asia

An international seminar for Bishops in Asia on the theme “Bishop as Father, Brother and Friend of Priest” will be organized by the FABC-Office of Clergy on May 16-21, 2011 at Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand. Based on the Apostolic Exhortation “Pastores Gregis” of Pope John Paul II, the theme is the ‘felt need’ of bishops due to the prevailing situation in Asian society. The proposed seminar will highlight the primary mission and ministry of the bishop as shepherd of the flock, and his significant role as servant leader in Christ by being a Father, Brother and Friend of his priests. For inquiries, contact FABC-Office of Clergy of FABC. 051110

Theme for the 2011 WCD Message Announced

The theme for next year's World Communication Day Message will be "Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age." 300910

Pastoral Care of Street People in the Continents of Asia & Oceania

A meeting on the pastoral care of the street people in the continents of Asia & Oceania will be organized by the Office of Human Development of FABC, in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples on October 19-23, 2010. The meeting will be held at Baan Phu Waan Training Center in Bangkok, Thailand. For details and inquiries, please contact the Office of Human Development. 100910

Preparatory Consultation on Caritas in Veritate in the Context of Asia

The Office of Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences will hold a preparatory consultation on Caritas in Veritate in the context of Asia on October 14-17, 2010. This internal meeting among OHD collaborators will be held at Gabriel Foundation Center in Bangkok, Thailand

Aim, Content and Process of the Preparatory Consultation 100910

BIBA III & 15th Asia-Oceania Bible Congress

The FABC-Office of Evangelization will hold the 3rd Bishops’ Institute for Bible Apostolate (BIBA) and the 15th Asia-Oceania Bible Congress in November 4-8, 2010 at the Redemptorist Centre, Pattaya, Thailand. The theme will be “Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church.” For inquiries, contact FABC-Office of Evangelization of FABC. 230810

FABC-OE seminar on Secularization and Evangelization Postponed

The upcoming meeting on Secularization and Evangelization organized by FABC –Office of Evangelization to be held on September 1-5, 2010 has been postponed and moved to February 20-24, 2011. The meeting will be held in Bangkok, Thailand. For inquiries, contact FABC-Office of Evangelization . 230810

FABC Plenary Final Statement

The Final Statement and interventions at the 9th Plenary Assembly of FABC held in Manila, Philippines on the theme “Living the Eucharist in Asia” is now available as FABC Paper No. 129. 130810

FABC Central Secretariat New Office

The FABC-Central Secretariat moves to a spacious new office after 30 years, thanks to the Bishop of Hong Kong. 130810

Final Statement of BILA II on Women East Asia Released

The Women’s Desk of the FABC Office of Laity and Family has published the Final Document of the Second BILA on Women for East Asia. The meeting themed, “Mary: Trutly A Woman of Our Times” was held at St. Therese Activity Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

The Keynote address was delivered by Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle, Imus, Philippines. The participants reflected on the situations of Women in East Asia. For details, refer to the Final Document. 081610

Inculturation in Missionary Formation

A doctoral thesis on Inculturation according to FABC Documents was published by the Urbaniana University in Rome. Father Dominic Tran Ngoc Dang has authored the dissertation on "Inculturation in Missionary Formation according to the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences documents (1970-2006) with Special Reference to the Mission in Vietnam." With this thesis, the number of academic studies related to the FABC is now 32 (28 doctoral theses, 4 masteral theses). 250310

New FABC Offices Executive Secretaries

Four of the nine offices of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) will have new executive secretaries each for a first four-year term. They are Father Nithiya, ofm cap from India for the Office of Human Development (OHD) succeeding Bro. Anthony Rogers, fsc; Ms. Wendy Louis from Singapore for the Office of Laity and Family (OLF) succeeding Ms. Virginia Saldanha from India; Father Rod Salazar, svd from the Philippines for the Office of Education and Faith Formation (OEFF) succeeding Father Vicente Cajilig, op from the Philippines; and Father Raymond Ambroise from India for the Office of Social Communication (OSC) succeeding Manila-based Father Franz-Josef Eilers, svd. 050310

Communication Bishop is new head of CBCI

Oswald Cardinal Gracias, the archbishop of Mumbai and member of the executive board of the FABC-Office of Social communication, was elected on March 1, 2010 as the new president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). The election is for the next two years. Cardinal Gracias is concurrently the president of the Latin-Rite of the "Conference of Catholic Bishops' of India" (CCBI). The Cardinal is a member of the FABC-OSC board since 2004. 030310

Joint FABC-CCA Staff Meeting

A joint meeting between the staff of the nine FABC offices and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) took place on February 20, 2010 at the FABC Documentation Centre in Bangkok.
The gathering reviewed existing and planned joint programs of the Churches in Asia and considered possibilities for a more committed collaboration between the FABC and the CCA. It was proposed to have similar joint meetings every year.

The last of such joint meetings took place August 2001 in Hong Kong, from where the CCA moved in 2006 to its new headquarters in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

CCA is a body of mainstream Protestant Churches in Asia and thus, in a certain way the Protestant counterpart of the FABC. The tradition of joint meetings between CCA and FABC dates back to 1993 when the first of such gatherings took place.
The nine-member CCA delegation who met with FABC offices in Bangkok this year was led by their General Secretary, Prawate Khid-arn with heads of departments for, e.g., Faith & Mission, Justice, International Affairs, Formation and Youth.
The FABC offices were represented by their respective executive secretaries with the FABC General Secretary, Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, omi. 260210

Laity Newsletter 4/09

The December issue of Laity newsletter is now available, featuring the Final Statement of the 5th AsIPA General Assembly held in Davao, Philippines from October 20-28, 2009, and the Message of the 5th Asian Youth Day (2009).
Click to view 220210

Paradigm Shift in Ministry of the Priest

An international seminar for priests on "The Paradigm Shift in the Mission and Ministry of the Priest in Asia" will be organized by the FABC-Office of Clergy on May 10-15, 2010 in Bangkok. The meeting takes up the various challenges faced by priests in Asia today. The purpose of the seminar is to develop a better appreciation of priesthood and ministry, in view of a deeper renewal and commitment, to help understand the ministry as a means of sanctification, and to help enhance the priests' spiritual life as true leaders of their people. Topics of the seminar will include "The Priest as a 'Servant-Leader'," "Models of Priestly Spirituality," and the "Presbyterium as the Source of Sacramental Brotherhood." 120210

Mary as Model of our Time and Discipleship

"Mary, Truly a Woman of our Time" will be the theme of the second BILA ("Bishops' Institute for Lay Apostolate") on Women in East Asia. The conference will be exclusive for East Asia participants (Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan). It will take place May 3-7, 2010 at St. Theresa Activity Center, Taoyuan, Taiwan. The meeting intends to produce some modules to help the participants to continue the BILA process in their respective countries. 120210

Women Living the Eucharist in South Asia

The third South Asia Meeting on Women took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 20 to 24, 2010 with the theme "Women Living the Eucharist in South Asia." It was locally organized by the Women's Desk of the Laity Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB). The gathering of 25 women with four bishops and two priests shared women's stories "from the rich depth of the inner well of women's experiences," as the Final Statement says. The participants committed themselves, beside others, to "continue to work for the empowerment of women" and to contribute to a "meaningful encounter with Christ in the Scriptures." They want to "promote the Mary of the Gospels in theology and devotion as a powerful and prophetic paradigm for discipleship."

Report
Final Statement
050210

IX FABC Plenary Statement Released

The "Final Document" on "Living the Eucharist in Asia" of the 9th Plenary Assembly of the FABC held in Manila August 10-16, 2009 was released on January 27, 2010. The document was prepared by a team of the FABC-Office of Theological Concerns, discussed at the Plenary in 2009, and finally completed for publication in January 2010.

The statement's considerations follow the structure of a Eucharistic celebration proceeding from Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word, to the Eucharistic Prayer, the Rite of Communion and Conclusion. Every section presents "Contextualized Pastoral Implications." Some pastoral recommendations on Formation towards Eucharistic Life, the Celebration and Adoration of the Word, Living the Eucharist and Missionary Orientation conclude the document.<

In an acompanying letter to the 25-page document, Archbishop Quevedo, omi, the general secretary of the FABC, proposes to the FABC-member bishops' conferences and associate members to present the document in the light of the prevailing situation of the respective conference or diocese, to use it in retreats, recollections and assemblies as well as in houses of formation, seminaries and even on the parish level.

"Living the Eucharist in Asia," Final Statement of the IX FABC Plenary Assembly
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FABC Offices Meet

The nine offices of the FABC are going to meet for a joint planning session February 17-20, 2010 at the FABC Documentation Centre in Bangkok. The planning will be guided by the experiences and proposals of the XI Plenary Assembly August, 2009 in Manila whose theme was "Living the Eucharist in Asia." 260110

FABC Paper No. 128: Social Communication in Catholic Universities of Asia

A new edition of "FABC Papers" has been published by the Central Secretariat in Hong Kong. The 128th Paper contains selected considerations and reflections of the seventh "Bishops' Institute for Social Communication" (BISCOM VII) on "Social Communication in Catholic Universities of Asia." Some 34 universities from 13 different countries of Asia participated in the meeting held at Assumption University in Bangkok May 6-13, 2009. It was a follow up of a similar world meeting organized by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications in Rome May 2008.

FABC Paper No. 128 contains presentations on the "Identity and Mission of a Faculty of Communication in a Catholic University," "Role of Catholic Universities on Social Communication in Theological Perspective," and contributions of a panel of scholars on "Teaching Social Communication in Catholic Universities." The "Final Statement" lists orientations and recommendations, and completes the 98-page publication. For inquiries, email to fabc@hkdavc.com or fabcsecretariat@yahoo.com 150110

Doctoral Dissertation on Laity in FABC Perspective

A doctoral dissertation on the role of the laity in contextual theology of the FABC was concluded in 2009 at the Australian Catholic University. The study was made and successfully defended by Peter N. V. Hai from Vietnam. The full title of the thesis is "Lay People in the Asian Church: A Critical Study on the Role of the Laity in Contextual Theology of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (1970-2001) with Special Reference to John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortations Christifidelis Laici (1989) and Ecclesia in Asia (1999), and the Pastoral Letters of the Vietnamese Episcopal Conference." This is the 27th doctoral dissertation written about or based on FABC thinking. There are further several MA and Licentiate theses written to-date. The Australian Catholic University operates from six different campuses in the country. 060110