News
Our Pilgrimage towards the
Light
(Statement of the First Asian Congress of Shrine Rectors
held on Oct. 20-24 at the Bahay Pari, San Carlos Pastoral
Formation Complex, Edsa, Guadalupe, Makati City, Philippines)
1. In a continent so vast and divergent, with the richest
standing side by side the poorest, old and new cultures
prevailing, nations possessing varied histories and complex
traditions and ways, Christianity is faced with an enormous
challenge. Unfortunately, this continent, where the Incarnate
Son of God chose to be born in, and to proclaim the Kingdom
of God, has the lowest percentage of Catholics and Christians
in proportion to the total Asian population. Yet, in this
continent reside intensely religious peoples, with ancient
traditions found in Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christianity,
deeply rooted in their cultural, economic and socio-political
lives so that most countries have adopted one or another
belief as the religion of the State. The question must be
raised: why has Jesus Christ, His Good news remained unknown
or unaccepted by the majority of the 3.4 million Asians?
2. This is the question we ask ourselves; we, Rectors representing
fifty-five Catholic Shrines in Asia, whom Divine Providence
has gathered at Bahay Pari, Makati City, Philippines. We
represent places of prayer aware that there are other holy
and more famous sites considered sacred by people of other
faiths. How can our shrines attract more devout Asian peoples
to whom we can make known and proclaim Christ and His saving
message? Can the Catholic Shrines truly be places of welcome
and encounter to all peoples of Asia. Can the holy shrines
of pre-Christian traditions discover the mystery of the
true God revealed by the Lord Jesus? We are ready and eager
to take up the challenge of the Holy Father in the Post
Synodal Apostolic Exhortation “Ecclesia in Asia”
as well as that of the Federation of Asian Bishops’
Conference to explore the realm of Inculturation and inter-religious
Dialogue in promoting God’s Kingdom in our vast continent.
3. We, the Shrine Rectors of Asia, will explore the immense
possibilities of inculturation and Dialogue, while proclaiming
the Good News, in pilgrimage areas through religious encounters,
liturgical celebrations, meaningful popular devotions, charitable
assistance, and even church and shrine architectural designs.
We aim to be in touch with the depths of our nations’
ethnic, historical and cultural traditions. We resolve to
establish lines of communications among peoples and other
beliefs. Difficulties, we know, there will always be, but
we are not daunted because we believe that no difficulty
is insurmountable. We accept the challenge to open vast
horizons for dialogue between cultures and dialogues with
other religious groups in the firm hope of arriving at the
sure revelation of Christ. We also affirm our commitment
to work together in finding God-sent solutions to the poverty
afflicting many Asian peoples, desirous of extolling the
dignity of life and of every human person.
4. As faithful disciples of Christ, we trust in God’s
unfailing help. Confident that God is always behind all
good works, we are willing “to pass through a needle’s
eye,” believing that what is humanly impossible, is
possible but with God’s love and guidance. We also
are confident in the strong support of the worldwide Church.
5. As a consequence, we have decided, as our mission from
Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, to form Associations of
Shrine Rectors in our countries and in the whole continent
of Asia. These associations shall provide the opportunity
for experiencing, sharing, learning, and empowering as well
as the united effort to contribute in achieving the goal
of evangelization of Asia through the Shrines.
And so we declare that:
“We, the Rectors of Shrines in Asia, gathered in Makati
City, Philippines, on October 20-24, after Mission Sunday
of the Year 2003, on the 25th anniversary of the Pontificate
of Pope John Paul II, resolve to form an association to present
and proclaim Jesus as a gift received and also to be shared;
for to bear witness to Jesus Christ is the supreme service.
We, a small party of the living stones of the Church in Asia,
can contribute this little offering to our people ‘for
(this) responds to their profound longing for the Absolute
and it unveils the truths and values which will ensure their
integral human development (Ecclesia in Asia no. 20).’
We accept the challenge of Inculturation, Dialogue and Integral
Human Development. Our starting point in this challenge is
where our brothers and sisters are in their awareness and
acceptance of Jesus, the gift of the Almighty but we hope
to work towards the apex of the fullness of Jesus’ humanity
that has been exalted at the right hand of the Father Almighty.”
6. We begin this journey of faith as pilgrims seeking the
Almighty in the spirit of Dialogue, through our witnessing
in words and deeds, humbly walking with the poor of Asia,
with the varied faces of peoples in their difficulties and
complex situations, and like Mary and with Mary, the Miriam
of many Asian brothers whose humble fiat has shown to all,
young and old, her motherly care, we go forward and entrust
everything to the guidance and strengthening aid (grace)
of the Almighty.
7. We now end and pray united with the Fathers of the Special
Synod of Asia. We also express our undaunted commitment
by affirming our signatures:
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