Voice of Asian Bishops

Ninety-nine percent of the Catholics in this Indian diocese of Ambikapur have diverse ethnicity, and their prelate regards women as the major force in connecting to the people.

A Sri Lankan bishop stressed that the faithful must learn how to genuinely reach out to people within and outside the Church instead of treating them as “projects” to be accomplished.

For an Indian bishop, the Catholic Church cannot turn a blind eye to the problems of society and the everyday woes of the people.

To facilitate interreligious dialogue in a country with a small Catholic minority, a bishop needs to cultivate inspired and empowered bridge-builders.

Bishop Socrates Mesiona underlined the Church’s role in guiding the faithful in taking care of creation as the climate crisis continues to worsen.

An Indonesian bishop said that every Catholic must promote environmental stewardship since “encountering ecology is also encountering the Creator.”

“We are repeating the story of Cain and Abel from Genesis,” he said. “

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said that full transparency of the Church’s expenditures can help dispel criticisms claiming it only exploits the poor and the needy for profit and selfish goals.

“Young people, this is your gift, be influencers. I get amazed at how, how fast, and talented they are and the various ways they can reach out to each other”, Archbishop Palma said.

“I say a vibrant community where all people of this diocese are nourished by the Word of God and sacraments,” Bishop Chacko said.

“It’s really different when you go to their places and meet them face-to-face,” said Bishop Santos.

“Through the Church, God shows His mercy, and people realize God's mercy and love for them… Let us know the Church. Let us love the Church. Let us serve the Church as a responsible steward with deep faith and great joy,” Bishop Emmanuel K Rozario said.

“We thank God we have this technology that has really helped us in many ways to continue with our evangelization program… to restore the beauty of creation.. to recreate the heart of man.. mirroring who is the source of everything..”, said Bishop Ongtioco.

“I thank God for whatever the Lord assigns me; I just give my best because the work belongs to the Lord. We are just shadows.

The traditional threefold concept of the Catholic Church involving the clergy, religious, and the laity has served the faithful for a long time. But for a Malaysian bishop, the upcoming Synod of Bishops may be leading us in a new direction to build “a Church of disciples.”

An Asian bishop said that “triple dialogue,” which revolves around religions, cultures, and the poor, is the “lifeblood” of the Catholic Church in Malaysia.

Catholic Church should be the “church of listening,” Archbishop Kikuchi

"We want to be with the people." Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi.

In an exclusive interview with Radio Veritas Asia, Bhopal Archbishop Durairaj, SVD, said people's and religious priests' love, support, encouragement, and cooperation motivate and challenge him to do many things in his mission.

Bishop Marcelino Antonio Malabanan Maralit said, “Make it a commitment in your life, especially if you have faith to live and fight for the truth, if we are now committed to the truth, then we must discover the truth.”