FINAL STATEMENT of 5TH Asipa GENERAL ASSEMBLY Held at Regional Major Seminary, Davao, Philippines from October 20Th - 28Th 2009
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FINAL STATEMENT OF 5TH AsIPA GENERAL ASSEMBLY Held at Regional Major Seminary, Davao, Philippines From October 20th - 28th 2009. ALL OF US at the FABC Office of Laity and Family send you warm greetings… 1. P7_,Y7 For a Christmas season blessed with 1.1 The 5th AsIPA General Assembly gathered 225 par cipants from 17 countries at the Regional a deep experience Major Seminary, Davao city, Philippines from October of Jesus’ gifts of 20th to 28th 2009. As we are gathered here we Peace & Joy. remember that this is the land where some 40 years ago the seeds of BECs/SCCs1 were fi r st sown. We also May our families respec ully remember the BEC leaders who were and communities be martyred during the Mar al Law for their prophe c transformed with commitment. these gifts; to be living witnesses of 1.2 Linking with the previous assembly in His Life in us. Trivandrum which discussed the sacraments in SCCs and con nuing the refl ec ons of the 9th FABC Plenary Assembly on, “Living the Eucharist in Asia” and the Synod on the ‘Word of God’ in Rome, this assembly took the theme “Do this in Memory of me (Lk.22:19): Bread Broken and Word Shared in SCCs”. We shared how the Word and the Eucharist were lived in the SCCs and we were challenged as to how SCCs can become catalysts of integral evangeliza o n. 1 SCCs & BECs are used interchangeably. For this document we will keep to SCCs for brevity. (con n ued on page 2) Vol. 2009 No. 4 (con n ued from page 1) 2. AJ` R7YJJ7 J` SCC. 2.1 One of the tangible results of SCCs is the interest in the Word of God. Many members own a Bible and make eff o rts to know the Bible be e r. 2.2 One of the most visible fruits of SCCs sharing and living the Word is 5th AsIPA General Assembly the growing sense of belonging in these communi es. 3. TG7YBJ-Y I`JBG. 2.3 Being guided by the Word of God, 3.1 “Do this in memory of me” Both the Word and the Bread as SCCs in par cipa ng countries are growing sources of eternal life are integral parts of the memory of Jesus that SCCs in their commitment to reach out to those celebrate in the Eucharist and keep alive in their communi es. (cf. FABC in need in the neighbourhood and are 9, 2009, Message) enabled to read the ‘signs of the mes’ and respond in the light of the Gospel. 3.2 “Word Shared” SCCs gather for regular sharing of the Word of God, for “human beings do not live by bread alone but by every Word that 2.4 Confi rming what Pope John Paul proceeds from the mouth of God” (Mt.4:4). The faith of the community II stated in Redemptoris Missio para 51, in is born out of and strengthened by listening to and sharing the Word of many countries SCCs have become centres God which nourishes their faith and deepens the bond of communion, for daily catechesis and contextualized building up the community. (Eph 4:15-16) faith forma on. They are agents of evangeliza on in their own way in the 3.3 “Bread broken” “The Eucharis c community is cons tu v e local context, enabling the community of the invisible communion with God in Jesus and the Spirit and the to take responsibility for the mission of visible communion of all people” (Ecclesia de Eucaris a . 35). The one sharing the message of Chris a n hope, bread and one cup of wine made from many grains of wheat and grapes peace and joy with their neighbours. crushed, is symbolic of the many members of the body of Christ unifi ed in the Eucharist and of the gathering of all the people in the Kingdom. 2.5 Although par cipa on in The breaking of the bread celebrates, deepens and fosters communion Eucharis c celebra o ns has increased manifested in the spirit of unity, par cipa on and sharing in the SCCs. because of ac ve involvement in SCCs; in The Eucharist makes present the total self-giving and sacrifi cial love of many parts of Asia the communi es are Jesus (Jn.10:17) so that we may have life in abundance (Jn.10:10). not able to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist regularly due to the lack of ordained 3.4 “Mission” At the recently concluded 9th plenary assembly of ministers. FABC, the Asian bishops stated “we are convinced that meaningful, contempla ve, experien al and prayerful celebra on of the Eucharist 2.6 In some countries especially in has the poten al to render the Chris a n communi es of Asia powerful the ci es, due to the heavy schedule of witnesses of Jesus, witnesses who are bearers of his presence, his love, work and travel, many SCCs have a low and his healing power”. (cf. Final Message) The Breaking of the Word and a endance for the Eucharist and for the Bread challenges the SCCs to share all the diverse charisms and gi s Gospel Sharing. given by the Spirit and use them to build up the body of Christ (Eph.4:11- 12) and carry out their mission to the world. 2.7 The experience of Gospel Sharing ‘sharing the word’ has shown that the Word of God is as important as the ‘breaking of bread’ in leading SCCs to a Christ experience. The par cipants also acknowledged the various other methods and approaches used in diff erent Asian countries to break the Word of God in SCCs. 2.8 The experience of the various Gospel Sharing methods and the Eucharis c celebra o ns during this Assembly made us aware of the social and poli cal reali es in the region and how the SCCs are a sign of hope. Message of the YAsians of the 5th Asian Youth Day to the Young Asians 5th AsIPA General Assembly J7 W G7 Y*7, B*7 4. CGYY7`B7 `3 5. C`-YJ` G`W, `3 3JJ,73 G7_ R7-__7`3J`. G7 +G +77 JJ`B 5.1 The Assembly gained a deeper G77; G7 G7` 3J3 G7 _7 4.1 The presence of a large understanding of the signifi cant role +JG G7 AJG, 3JJ,J`B number of passive and un-churched SCCs can play both in celebra ng _-G G71 +`73. (JG` members in our parishes is a great Eucharist meaningfully and living it 6:11) challenge to the SCCs. out in their daily lives. We are YAsians! – the young Asians 4.2 In several Asian countries 5.2 In the light of discussions of the 5th Asian Youth Day, coming from the socio-economic problems caused and sharing during the assembly the countries all over Asia. We gathered for by migra o n, poverty and cultural par cipants strongly felt that SCCs be the grand YAsia Fiesta in the Diocese upheavals are adversely aff ec ng exhorted to work harder to animate of Imus (Cavite, Philippines), 20 – 27 family life. The SCCs are called to its members to take the Word and the November 2009. As one, we ate a lot, we respond to these reali es in the light Eucharist more seriously into their prayed a lot, we played a lot. We shared of the gospel. lives. stories, we laughed, we cried, we made many new friends! We walked, we listened, 4.3 Impelled by the Word of God, 5.3 We are deeply grateful to we talked. We feasted and we celebrated the SCCs are called to get involved Archbishop Fernando Capalla and our faith - all in the spirit of coming in the social transforma on of his local team of organizers at the together, sharing the Word and living the oppressive structures, based on the Seminary & other residence. For the Eucharist. values of the Kingdom. exposure programme and for the SCCs / GKKs for their generous hospitality YAsia Fiesta made us rediscover our 4.4 The Church is challenged and hard work. We also acknowledge giftedness, openness and youthfulness. to face the reality of fi nding ways with gra tude the generous support We experienced again our creativity and and means of making the Eucharist given to us by MISSIO Germany and richness in talents. Despite barriers an integral part of the life of the others who contributed towards the especially in language, we were able to community. fund. FABC Offi ce of Laity and Family, reach out to one another and respect our AsIPA desk for overall coordina o n differences. Because we are young, we 4.5 The coordina o n of the eff o rts work. are full of energy and we recognize that to form, strengthen and sustain SCCs there is so much more in our lives. in Asia is a demanding task. 5.4 Finally we raise our hearts in gra t ude and prayer to our Almighty We also realized the vast opportunities 4.6 The spirit of the ‘new way of Father through Jesus his Son and the before and around us. Ours is the being Church’ challenges SCC leaders Spirit that we may be con nually generation enriched with technological and other Church leaders to exercise led to grow as communi es Sharing advancements for our efficiency and a non-domina ng and facilita v e the Word and Breaking the Bread.