After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 12 to 30.
The Catholic bishops of Asia, including the Oriental Churches, will hold their own General Conference, or plenary in person.
The FABC was established in 1970, during Pope Paul VI's visit to Manila, Philippines, when Asian Bishops met for the first time.
The inaugural ceremony will be streamed live on various social media platforms.
More than 140 prelates, FABC officials and visitors from nearly 40 countries are scheduled to attend the event.
During the plenary, bishops' conferences from various Asian nations will present activity reports.
The bishops intend to strengthen collegiality while reflecting, praying, and discussing what it means to be a "Church in Asia" from the Second Vatican Council to today's challenges, laying out guidelines for the coming years.
The Second Vatican Council, also known as Vatican II, was Catholic Church's 21st ecumenical council,
On January 25, 1959, Pope John XXIII announced the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), also known as Vatican II, as a means of spiritual renewal for the church and an opportunity for Christians separated from Rome to join in a search for Christian unity.
The FABC has released a prepared prayer for "FABC 50," as the event is known, in the hope that "awareness, interest, and a sense of participation can be created" in the various Asian nations.
Various speakers will reflect on some key issues related to faith and mission at the FABC's Golden Jubilee conference, including how the Church in Asia can continue to announce the Good News in light of emerging realities; how the FABC can better serve and support bishops and their respective conferences; how Asia's cultural richness can contribute to the universal Church; and how the Church in this part of the world can contribute to a better Asia.
"The Church is looking for new ways to continue serving the people and peoples of Asia; let us walk together to reflect, imagine, participate, and rediscover a new way of being a church in Asia; we are called, in the words of Pope Francis, to prepare for the future," says Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, President of the Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, who will attend the FABC Conference.
The Archbishop invites the faithful to pray "so that the Church may continue to be a sign of God's love in Asia and around the world, guided by the Holy Spirit." - With input from Fides news agency
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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