Asia

Bishop Kang later explained in an interview that this was his first trip toVietnam, so he felt he must apologize for the war crimes committed by Korean troops who fought here decades ago. “The statement I made was personal and not in the name of our bishops’ conference, but I am confident my fellow bishops would support what I did,”

XUAN LOC, Vietnam – Archbishop Leo Jun Ikenaga of Osaka highlighted natural and human-made threats to life in his report to the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) 10th Plenary Assembly as president of the Catholic bishops' Conference of Japan.

Following a brief presentation of the working paper by Cardinal Gracias, several participants shared their reflections and reactions, largely based on realities they must deal with in their respective local Churches. Their interventions sketched a snapshot of challenges the Church...

The 10th Plenary Assembly of Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) is held in Xuan Loc, Vietnam, from 10 to15 December 2012 with a pastoral and festive conclusion in Ho Chi Minh City on December 16. This Plenary Assembly gathers with the theme “FABC at 40 Years: Responding to the Challenges of Asia” to celebrate its 40thanniversary.

Delegates and guests attending the 10th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) have heard how the dreams of a few Asian bishops combined with the openness of Pope Paul VI to empower Catholic bishops of Asia to work together during the past four decades.

The 10th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) opened on Dec. 11 at Xuan Loc Pastoral Centre, part of a large compound of the Catholic diocese of Xuan Loc in Dong Nai Province, east of Ho Chi Minh City.

Pour la dixième fois depuis sa fondation il y a quarante ans, et pour la première fois au Vietnam, la Fédération des Conférences épiscopales d’Asie (FABC) tient son assemblée plénière. Elle s’est ouverte le 10 décembre, à l’évêché de Xuân Lôc, à une cinquantaine de kilomètres au nord de Saigon. Le thème choisi pour les débats est double : une réflexion sur les quarante années d’existence

"Although I am Hindu, I am curious about Christmas. Many of my friends and mates in school are Christian and exchanging gifts and best wishes has become a tradition for us. On Christmas night I light candles and pray for peace and my soul's salvation. This gives me hope and courage."

The Vatican Declaration Dominus Iesus, released by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in September 2000, became the most “talked about” Vatican document in recent Church history. A significant criticism of the document is that it does not resonate well with the ground realities of the Church’s relations with persons of other religions.

The Vietnam plenary assembly, which is expected to be attended by delegates from theVatican, has chosen for its theme: “FABC at Forty Years -Responding to the Challenges of Asia: The New Evangelization.”

On the ocasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), I would like to convey my sincerest congratulations to the FABC for all...

Asian Church may hold the key to reaching former Catholics

The Diocese of Wanxian, which was part of Sichuan province before the erection of the Chongqing Municipality in 1997, lies in the district of Wanzhou and covers eight counties, in a mostly mountainous area.

Taiwan and the Holy See celebrated 70 years of relations on Saturday (20 Oct. 2012) at a low-key ceremony in Taipei designed not to antagonize mainland China.

C'est une "année de grâce" celle que vivra la petite communauté catholique du Tadjikistan forte de 333 fidèles qui tiennent allumée la petite flamme de la Foi en Asie centrale malgré les difficultés et les nouvelles restrictions à la liberté religieuse imposées dans le pays. Les fidèles sont guidés par un petit groupe de missionnaires espagnols de l'Institut du Verbe incarné...

A la veille de l’ouverture à Rome du Synode pour la nouvelle évangélisation, Eglises d’Asie a interrogé Mgr Olivier Schmitthaeusler, membre de la Société des Missions Etrangères de Paris et vicaire apostolique de Phnom Penh, au Cambodge. Elu pour participer au Synode afin d’y représenter les Eglises du Cambodge et du Laos (les deux Eglises appartiennent à la même Conférence épiscopale – CELAC), il explique ..

The organization of four Seminars, the publication of brochures, a competition for the hymn of the Year of Faith made by the indigenous peoples of the island: are some of the initiatives of the Church of Taiwan launched in view of the Year of Faith which will begin on 11 October 2012.

The continental Catholic community rallied after the earthquake that occurred on September 7-2012 in the province of Yun Nan, area where there are different ethnic groups. As always in these situations, Jinde Charities, the largest Catholic charitable organization in mainland China, is at the forefront since the beginning to coordinate the emergency relief and reconstruction.

Au cours des huit premiers mois de 2012, la Paroisse de Jiang Yin du Diocèse de Nan Jing en province de Jiang Su, a accueilli 294 nouveaux membres après un long chemin de préparation et de catéchèse.

Vatican Radio (4 Sept 2012) -- The Asian church must evangelise on the digital continent and they can learn how to do this by looking at the advances made in the field by Vatican Radio. This is according to Dr. Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, Chancellor of St. John’s University, Bangkok, Thailand and a long-time consultant for Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-Hsi SJ, the Bishop emeritus of Kaohsiung in Taiwan has died at the age of 89.

L'esprit du charisme franciscain, explique-t-il, est de "rendre témoignage à l'Evangile comme l'a fait Saint François, en vivant au milieu de la population et au milieu des pauvres et des marginalisés dans la simplicité et l'humilité".

As every year the Catholic community in mainland China is intensifying the children’s summer pastoral with the organization of summer camps, meetings and catechism with many other initiatives to increase formation and experience of faith of the young people, the sense of belonging to the Church and their missionary awareness, through moments of relaxation and enjoyment.

“There are more than 130,000 Religious in India and a quarter of them are in their thirties, so these are people who will be leading their congregations in the next decade. This convention, with its theme of leadership, hoped to bring out the best among these young men and women, to give them new ideas and a new approach to the consecrated life.”

A Hong Kong cardinal has criticized the Chinese government’s involvement in ordinations, saying they are neither political nor economic matters, after officials reportedly launched an investigation into the Vatican-approved ordination of Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin last week.

Almost every evening, the five security guards at Peshawar’s All Saints Church have to stop confused Muslims from entering the premises during the call to prayer. “However, they are usually from other cities since local Muslims know it’s a Church,” said Ikhtiar Khan.

Seoul - Priority will be evangelization in a country where the Catholic community is growing but also “missio ad gentes”; equally important is the work for reconciliation and reunification with North Korea and hold high in Asia the flag of defence of life: this is what the new Archbishop of Seul, His Excellency, Andrew Yeom Soo-jeong, 69 years, released to Fides in his first interview after his nomination.

Faith is an essential asset if Cambodia is to restore itself. As people of faith we come into the public square as committed citizens. True to our religious tradition, we discharge the public trust we are given and we work to recognise the dignity and human rights of all persons, at all life stages, no matter what their competencies, potentialities, achievements or distinguishing marks. We work to establish the common good.

According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (the diocesan bulletin in Chinese), this year there were 3,400 baptized during Easter. Cardinal Tong pointed out that "in view of the Year of Faith, of the 50 years of II Vatican Council and 20 years of the publication of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church...

The formation of the Christian faith is essential for an integral growth of young people today: is the result of a survey conducted by "Hong Kong Family Movement" in collaboration with the Group of Family Service of Caritas Hong Kong, conducted from November 2011 to March 2012...