Thailand prepares for Missions Congress in Asia
The deputy president of the Thai Bishops' Conference invited participants to go back to Ecclesia in Asia. The event, due to be held in Chiengmai in October, will gather thousands of representatives from countries across the continent.
Bangkok (AsiaNews) "Reread the apostolic exhortation, Ecclesia in Asia, transmitting it to the community as a manual to study evangelization in the continent." This was the invitation of the deputy president of the Thai Bishops' Conference, Mgr George Yod Phimphisan, to participants of the Congress of Asian Missions (AMC), due to be held from 19 to 22 October in Thailand. The bishop said rereading the document signed by John Paul II will be important "to come to the event well prepared, an event that will bring benefits for the evangelization of Asia."
In October, at the end of the Year of Evanglisation, thousands of representatives from different Asian countries will come to Chiengmai to participate in the AMC, entitled, "Meeting Jesus in Asia: a celebration of faith and life".
A Congress about missions is usually held once every four or five years in one of the continents, on a rotating basis.
Fr Chalerm Kitmongkhol, deputy secretary-general of the bishops' conference, explained the significance of the symbol chosen for the event: a cross inscribed in a dove, near a map of Asia. "The map represents all of us in Asia; the cross is Jesus; the dove is the Holy Spirit that will lead the congress. Altogether, it means Jesus together with the Holy Spirit is embracing the Asian continent."
The priest said: "The main challenges to mission in Asia are different languages, faiths and cultures in different countries across the continent (with the exception of the Philippines and East Timor, both with Catholic majorities) and the lack of support from governments, and in some cases, even persecution."
Fr Chalerm Kitmongkhol said the Congress will also consider progress in evangelization made by other Christian denominations.
Thailand is a 95% Buddhist country, and Catholics number around 300,000.
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