To live the faith the Church in Asia must engage in missionary action, says Bishop
Menamparampil
(August 15, 2009) As a minority Asia’s Christians can live their faith only if they
are involved in missionary action with “courage and passion,” said Mgr Thomas Menamparampil.
For this reason the bishop of Guwahati in India invited the 137 delegates who came
to Manila for the 9th plenary session of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences
(FABC) to become involved in a new process of evangelisation. This year’s theme is
‘Living the Eucharist in Asia.’ For the Indian bishop the many communities scattered
around the continent are called to announce the Gospel with “dauntless courage”. And
the “spiritual support of our mission is the Eucharist,” Bishop Menamparampil explained
for it brings us to announce Christ “with unlimited confidence, contributing to the
transformation of our society and the shaping of its future.” In his address the
bishop of Guwahati said the Eucharist and the Word of God “are the source of our unfailing
strength.” This in turn opens such communities to the many challenges of the continent’s
realities of today. The relationship to Asia’s ancient traditions, the dialogue with
religions that have inhabited the continent’s many countries for centuries, the fight
against intolerance, persecution and discrimination, and help that can be provided
to the poor are challenges that can be met without fear by “drawing strength from
Jesus and the Eucharist.” The new Christian martyrs, those who have fallen to violence
in India, Pakistan or Vietnam, and all those who suffer poverty and discrimination
in many of Asia’s nations need a strong Church, one that is prepared to bear witness.
For the Indian prelate, evangelisation and Christianity’s presence in Asia go hand
in hand.