The international symposium, “Towards a Fully Synodal and Missionary Church in Asia: Re-reading Ecclesia in Asia for the Jubilee Year”, commemorating 25 years of Ecclesia in Asia, was held on December 13-14, 2024, at St. John’s NAHS, Bangalore. The hybrid-mode event brought together 450 participants, including bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful, from across Asia and beyond.
The symposium was organized by the Pontifical Mission Organizations - India, in collaboration with the Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU), International Secretariat, and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).
In his video message to the participants, His Eminence Antonio Luis Cardinal Tagle emphasized the significance of re-engaging with Ecclesia in Asia in contemporary contexts. “The revisiting of Ecclesia in Asia does not mean critiquing it, but applying it to our present context,” he remarked, urging the Church in Asia to rediscover its missionary zeal and adapt to current realities.
His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, in his felicitation address, highlighted the importance of unity and mission. “This gathering invites us to reflect on and celebrate our unity with the universal Church and to respond to the unique challenges and opportunities in our Asian context. It inspires us to embrace our mission with new enthusiasm, striving to embody the spirit of communion, participation, and mission envisioned by Pope Francis for a synodal Church.”
Archbishop of Bangalore, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, pointed to key pastoral priorities derived from Ecclesia in Asia, including lay empowerment, youth ministry, family care, interfaith dialogue, and addressing poverty.
Very Rev. Dr. Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen, OFMConv, Secretary General of the PMU, presented the keynote address. In his address he underlined that Ecclesia in Asia was written “within a Christological and missionary framework.”
His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Ambrose Pitchaimuthu, Bishop of Vellore and Director of Pontifical Mission Organizations - India, extended a warm welcome to the gathering, underscoring the significance of the symposium in renewing the Church’s missionary commitment in Asia as it approaches the Jubilee Year.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary to the CCBI, Rev. Fr. Jesudoss Rajamanickam, Director of St. John's NAHS, Rev. Sr. Dr. Lalitha Thomas SJT, Synod Participant were among the dignitaries.
The speakers were: Rev. Fr. Dr. Clarence Devadass, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Rev. Sr. Dr. Patricia Santos RJM, Pune, India; Most Rev. Dr. Lawrence Pius, Dharmapuri, India; Most Rev. Dr. Alex Vadakumthala, Kannur, India; Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Mangalore, India; Rev. Fr. Dr. Charles Davis James, Bangalore, India; and Rev. Fr. Charles Vijay Kumar CSsR, Bangalore, India.
The panel discussion held on the theme "Re-writing Ecclesia in Asia: Imagining a Document for Asia’s Future Church synodal and missionary by nature" attracted more participants. The speakers were Mr. Sagar Gabbeta (a young person's perspective), Ms. Mary Priyadarshini (a lay / woman's perspective), Rev. Fr. Dr. Vincent Chinnadurai (a pastor's perspective), and Prof. Dr. Shilanand Hemraj (a non-Christian perspective). The panel was coordinated by Rev. Fr. Dr. Roy Lazar, Vellore, India.
The valedictory session was presided over by Rev. Fr. Dr. Christopher Vimalraj Hiruthya, Associate Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI, who situated the international symposium in the context of the forthcoming Plenary Assembly of the CCBI on "Discerning Pathways for Synodal Missionary Church."
The symposium facilitated robust discussions on re-reading Ecclesia in Asia to inspire a fully synodal and missionary Church in Asia. The event served as a clarion call for the Church in Asia to embody the spirit of Pope Francis’ vision of communion, participation, and mission while addressing the unique pastoral realities of the Asian continent.
Rev. Prof. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi, the Program Coordinator, proposed read out the final statement, spelling out 12 calls to action: (i) Deepen the synodal journey; (ii) Foster inter religious and ecumenical dialogue; (iii) Promote evangelisation through witness; (iv) Support contextual theologies and liturgies; (v) Empower marginalised communities; (vi) Enhance formation programs; (vii) Empower lay participation; (viii) Prioritise youth and family ministry; (ix) Care for creation; (x) Utilise digital media for mission; (xi) Celebrate Asian spirituality; and (xii) Enter the Jubilee Year with purpose.
The International Symposium on Ecclesia in Asia has set a transformative path for the Asian Church, fostering inclusivity, dialogue, and missionary zeal. It has reignited the commitment to living out the Gospel message as a synodal and missionary Church in Asia, in preparation for the Jubilee Year 202
“The symposium was a profound reminder of the Church’s mission in Asia. The sessions were inspiring and relevant, particularly the call for inclusivity in our synodal journey," Rev. Fr. B. Paulraj, Archdiocese of Madurai.
“I was especially moved by the panel discussion, which brought fresh and diverse perspectives to Ecclesia in Asia. It was thought-provoking and truly synodal in spirit,” Mrs. Clara Fernandes, Bangalore.
“This event was a perfect preparation for the Jubilee 2025. The discussions on evangelization in the digital age were insightful and necessary for today’s Church,” Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak, Berhampur.
Photos courtesy: Fr. Joel Mendonca CSC