"We must elect or appoint leaders that promote unity and put the common good of the people above selfish and narrow-minded interests," says Cardinal William Goh.
Most kidney patients in Vietnam gather in the nation's big cities for medical care, as other places lack specialized equipment. Catholic sisters lead efforts to ease the patients' loneliness and financial burdens.
Cardinal Bo stressed the need for the Church to be reactive, to be an agent of peace, initiating dialogue, advocating for equality, and standing up to power with ‘empty hands.’ Mentioning that ‘every jubilee calls for metanoia, the Cardinal challenged the delegates to ‘fight for peace’ and to let peace-making be the new evangelization.’
A Japanese bishop who attended the ongoing general conference in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), says it provides a "pastoral perspective" of the church.
FABC General Conference on October 19 discussed the pastoral significance of faith-rich encounters, digital media in ministry, the need for paradigm shifts in the formation of clergy, and the importance of pastoral care of families.
Youth delegates at FABC General Conference highlighted the importance of the youth being considered as more than just a task force, and the hope that elders and Church leaders will provide spiritual guidance and be kind to the growth of the youth.
The pandemic revealed that the Church is vulnerable to pain, suffering and change, but is a Church of Paschal mystery and Synodality, moving towards healing and togetherness. Pandemic revealed new pastoral pathways in programs of dialogue, formation, digital evangelisation, ecological conservation, and reviving the liturgy to be personal to each person.
The St. John the Baptist Church in Tumilia, a parish in the Archdiocese of Dhaka in Bangladesh, organized a reunion for priests, brothers, and nuns—the first of its kind.
The second day of the FABC General Conference, 14th October 2022, continued with reports on the emerging realities from the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore.
