In an online launching ceremony on March 15, Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay released the “Bangkok document”, the final document of the FABC 50 Conference.
The Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) held its first general conference on the theme” ‘Journeying Together as People of Asia,” from October 12-30, 2022, at the Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Training Center, Bangkok, marking the 50th anniversary of its creation.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Convenor of the FABC 50 General Conference released the document accompanied by Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, the Secretary of the same General Conference.
Cardinal Gracias described it as "a spiritual document, which is the fruit of prayer, discernment, and spiritual conversation.”
“It is the beginning of a new journey,” the Cardinal said, and he expressed the hope that “it would become an influential document for the pastoral and missionary work in Asia.”
Cardinal Charles Bo, President of the FABC welcomed all present, and described the final document as “a visionary document that will energize and revitalize the church in Asia.”
Cardinal Bo said that the FABC 50 at Bangkok was “a historical event and a watershed moment for the Church in Asia.”
Bishop Pablo David, the main coordinator of the documentation committee, which wrote the final document, explained how it came to be and its structure, and highlighted the important content of the final document, which is named “Bangkok Document.”
The leitmotif of the General Conference was the journey of the Magi in the Gospel of Mathew and the document is structured on five themes from the story, such as journeying, looking, discerning, offering gifts, and going on new pathways.
“Matthean narrative of the Magi runs through the whole doc as the biblical-theological thread that gives the document its thematic unity,” said Bishop David.
“We imagined ourselves journeying together looking up and seeking guidance from stars, discerning the signs, and finding our way to Christ the Son of god in order to offer him our gifts and taking new pathways for our mission in the context of modern-day Asia.”
The 40-page document comprises 5 parts; Journeying together, looking at Asia’s emerging realities, discerning what the Spirit is saying to the Church in Asia, Offering Our Gifts which are Asian Culture and Spirituality, and Opening New Pathways.
Archbishop Kikuchi of Tokyo, the Secretary General of the FABC thanked all participants. - Jose Palakeel
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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