ASIAN BISHOPS CONVIVENCE
Israel Nov 2006
NEW EVANGELIZATION IN ASIA
AND THE NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY -
MISSIO AD GENTES
MOUNT OF THE BEATITUDES (Korazin, Israel).
From 19th to 24th November 2006, about 150 bishops attended a convivence of Asian Bishops at DOMUS GALILAEAE on the Mount of the Beatitudes. The support of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, particularly of its Cardinal Prefect, and the success of the previous convivences of bishops, encouraged the initiators of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Arguello, Carmen Hernandez and Father Mario Pezzi to organize this meeting.
Cardinal Ivan Dias, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, in his message for this meeting, expressed his warm greeting and gratitude to the initiators, itinerant catechists, presbyters and families in mission for the precious service that they render to the Bishops and to the particular churches in Asia in this work of evangelization.
He told the bishops, "Being well aware of what John Paul II confirmed in Redemptoris missio: that it is Asia, towards which the Church's mission ad gentes ought to be chiefly directed(n.37), and that the Church in Asia is living a providential moment, we can ask ourselves: how can we transmit to the Asian peoples and cultures the gift of Truth that exists for all and that they, in their innermost selves, are awaiting? How can we concretely bring the joyful preaching of the salvific death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit? The answer to such a fundamental question regarding the evangelisation of the modern world was given by the Second Vatican Council, whose objectives, in the words of Paul VI, can be finally ‘summed up in this single one: to make the Church ever better fitted for proclaiming the Gospel to the people of our time (PAUL VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 2). The Asian continent, that has such a great wealth of peoples, cultures and spiritual traditions, will not fail to welcome the specificity of the Neocatechumenal Way which, lived in small Christian communities, is able to bring to the world the signs that call people to faith: love in the dimension of the crucified Christ and perfect unity. We are sure that during your meeting, the Holy Spirit will not fail to enlighten you in finding new ways of announcing the Gospel in the missio ad gentes."
By far the biggest contingent was from India: about 75 including cardinal, archbishops and bishops. There were archbishops and bishops from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and the Patriarchs of the Syriac and Armenian Catholic Churches.Four bishops came from Australia and some from Guam and the Marshall Islands in Oceania, with representatives from Papua New Guinea.
This was the seventh time, the Neocatechumenal Way has organised convivences for bishops. The last one, also for bishops of Asia, was held in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (2002). The others were: Latin America, in Santo Domingo (1992); Europe, in Vienna (1993); Africa (1994) and the Middle East (1996) both held in Rome; America, held in New York in April 1997.
An interview with the Indian Cardinal after a meeting in the Holy Land about evangelization in Asia and Australia. The Cardinal said anti-conversion laws must not be allowed to suffocate the missionary spirit, an essential part of the Church.
(AsiaNews) "The spirit of 'mission ad gentes' in the Church in India must not diminish despite a host of anti-conversion laws that are being adopted across the country", said Cardinal Telesphore Toppo. The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) was speaking on his return from the Holy Land. He went there to participate in a meeting of the Neocatechumenal Way about evangelization in Asia and Australia, together with many Asian bishops.
Cardinal Toppo told AsiaNews about the meeting that took place at the 'Domus Galilaeae' International Centre of Korazim: "We all renewed our respective missionary commitments, as a gift and service to render to the Church in our countries and dioceses." The meeting was convoked by initiators of the 'Way', Kiko Arguello, Carmen Hernandez and Fr Mario Pezzi, and brought together 150 bishops from Asia and Australia. The meeting focused on themes like Christian initiation, 'mission ad gentes' and the challenge of secularization in Asia and Australia.
Toppo, who is also archbishop of Ranchi, said: "This mission ad gentes is not new, on the contrary, evangelization through witness of lives was part of the spirit of the early church, and it is very essential that mission be part of our lives. All the Bishops of the Indian episcopate will put this at the service of their pastoral ministry."
The cardinal continued: "'Mission ad gentes' is also a response to the challenges of secularism, which is rampant even in small towns today¡ In today's sensitive context of communal tensions between religious groups, this 'mission ad gentes' is essential and fundamental to breathe new Spirit into the Church."
As for anti-conversion laws approved by some States of the Union, Cardinal Toppo stressed that the 'Church is fundamentally missionary' and added: "Although many local government apply anti-conversion laws against evangelization under the guise of 'freedom of religion bills', we have the guarantees of the Constitution on our side, which ensure freedom of choice and conscience."
Finally, the cardinal said: "At the CBCI Plenary Session, I will share my experience about this 'missio ad gentes' and invite my brother bishops to follow this way of evangelization."
