Towards PMPC IV

Quevedo, O.M.I Towards PMPC IV The Third Peninsular Malaysia Pastoral Convention took to “review, renew, and relive ” the vision-mission of the Church in Peninsular Malaysia.

May 02, 2016

B. Quevedo, O.M.I Towards PMPC IV The Third Peninsular Malaysia Pastoral Convention took to “review, renew, and relive ” the vision-mission of the Church in Peninsular Malaysia.

Q: Where were we at PMPC III (2006)?

A. Reading through and trying to absorb the responses to the Pre- Convention questionnaires, I find great interest and concern from all for the well being of the Church. Certainly, the responses highlight areas for further dialogue, discussion and action.

Some comments relate to the serious challenges faced by families today, and the lack of family-oriented formation.

Others ask for trained professionals, facilities and avenues to develop the Youth Ministry.

Also required is greater support and out-reach to College and University students.

The growing tensions among people of different races, cultures, languages and religions in society at large are affecting us.

There are issues related to the main thrust of our journey as Church, the BEC. You have mentioned that the strategies and methodology of BECs are not flexible and that BECs do not serve the differing needs and situations of the people.

Another concern is that the role of the Laity is not fully recognized. More could be done to mobilise their expertise and skills.

The Clergy, for their part, over and above their traditional duties of administering the sacraments and preaching, are called to build communities in a multi-cultural, multiracial and multi-lingual society of diverse peoples.

In the relationship between Clergy, Laity and Religious, and also among the Religious, Clergy and Laity themselves, greater communication and dialogue is seen as necessary.

In the area of Parish Council structures, these are not clearly defined; members are not trained, and review and feedback mechanisms are not being implemented.

Our realities in the area of formation indicate that we need to re-double our efforts to provide on-going formation for BEC leaders, catechists, pastoral workers, parishioners, etc.

Our language groups, in particular, lack formation in comparison to others, and more trained facilitators in the vernacular are needed.

Not least, we have not addressed sufficiently the pastoral needs of the growing presence of the Indigenous Peoples in Peninsular Malaysia, the East Malaysians and Migrants currently resident here.

All these have come up in our earlier process of Review and Renew. During these next few days, as part of the Convention proceedings, these will be further deliberated on as we bring together our insights as a Church Community living the Spirituality of Communion. Let us, then, take an honest look at all the suggestions and criticisms that have been collated and formulate certain clear directions and strategies for the Church in Semenanjung Malaysia. The exact implementation of these will be up to each Diocese.

At the Pre-Convention meeting of us three Bishops in Peninsular Malaysia, one point that really caught our attention in studying our document, Pastores Gregis, is that we are to be “servants of the Gospel for the hope of the world. We have the duty of instilling confidence and proclaiming...the basis of Christian hope.” -- Archbishop Murphy Pakiam HERALD

The third Peninsular Malaysia Pastoral Convention is to “review, renew, and relive” the vision-mission of the Church in Peninsular Malaysia. The vision-mission was formulated at PMPC II. In 1996, PMPC II declared:

Our Vision:
--to be rooted in the Communion of the Trinity and among ourselves;
--to be in Solidarity with the whole human family and creation; This vision leads us to living out our vocation to be at the service of the Kingdom of God.

Our Mission:
-- to Witness through Basic Ecclesial Communities founded on Christ, and thus to transform our parishes into “ C o m m u n i o n o f Communities”;
-- to Proclaim and Dialogue with religions, cultures and the poor. -- Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, O.M.I

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