Vital to journey together in unity

Jan 21, 2022

KUALA LUMPUR: All Christians are invited to pray for unity and continue to journey together, said Cardinals Mario Grech, general secretary of the Synod of the Bishops, and Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

The cardinals have been highlighting ways the local Churches can implement an ecumenical dimension of the synodal process, given that “synodality and ecumenism are processes of walking together,” they wrote in a joint letter dated October 28, 2021, sent to bishops responsible for ecumenism within their episcopal conferences.

Because a synodal Church is a Church which listens, “this listening should concern the totality of those who are honoured by the name of Christian, since all the baptised participate to some degree in the sensus fidei,” Cardinals Grech and Koch wrote.

Ecumenism is an “exchange of gifts” and “one of the gifts Catholics can receive from the other Christians is precisely their experience and understanding of synodality,” they added.

Among the suggestions in the letter, the cardinals ask that dioceses reach out to the leaders of the main Christian communities in their area, inform them about the synodal process, invite them to appoint delegates to participate in the pre-synodal diocesan meetings and, possibly, to address the diocesan synodal assembly, organise listening sessions, and encourage them to send written reflections on the questionnaire included in the preparatory document.

Following the letter, the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (OEIA) of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, organised an online meeting on the ecumenical dimension of the synodal process on Jan 12.

“This pandemic has affected all nations, without regard for race or religion. It is indeed a wake-up call for all people to work together. Asia, already being a land of a multitude of cultures and faiths, with the majority of the people who are poor, is indeed badly impacted. Together with the synodal process in progress, Catholics throughout Asian dioceses have collaborated with NGOs, other faiths and Christians to respond to the current needs to alleviate the suffering caused by this pandemic, natural disasters and destruction from earthquakes, flooding and typhoons,” said Most Rev Simon Poh of the Archdiocese of Kuching.

“In this pandemic time, such interfaith dialogue and ecumenical dialogue of action, of responding and working together for the good of all humanity, are even more urgent than ever.

“It was also noted that in sharings from various dioceses, the process of working together among various faiths and Christians is already taking place in Asia, where Catholics are a religious minority in most Asian countries. I believe that such dialogue will promote harmony, collaboration, mutual respect and acceptance that are much needed, especially with the rise in intolerance and religious fundamentalism that is beginning to emerge in many parts of Asia.

“In the spirit of such good will and dialogue, it was proposed that the synodal process could also include listening to the voices of Christians and people of other faiths on how they view the Catholic Church - on the leadership as well as on the grassroots level.” added Archbishop Simon, one of the 18 representatives from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei region.

The meeting, which gathered more than 70 representatives of the Bishops’ Conferences of Asia coming from more than 20 countries, was an opportunity to offer practical suggestions with a view to implementing the ecumenical dimension of the synodal process in dioceses, as well as in episcopal conferences and synods of the FABC.

“We are looking in the right direction and focusing on the essentials. We should be motivated and courageous to stand out for our faith and not join others because of threats,” said Fr Moses Rayappan, from the Diocese of Malacca Johore.

For Fr Jude Miranda, “The synodal process that the Holy Father has called all of us to participate has been one that is creative, inclusive and bridge building. We could see the spirit of the synod on synodality is reflecting a Church that is not just ad intra but one that is ad extra. A Church that is not just about the baptised but it’s about everyone in spite of their faith and creed. The synodal path honours the maturity, dignity and equality of all people, reflecting the diversity of perspectives that allows for broadening of one’s understanding and deepening of the truth in a particular situation and reality,” said the priest form the Diocese of Penang. --Agencies