The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 12 to 30 this year.
The federation will also hold its general assembly in person for the first time after after two years of hiatus during the pandemic.
More than 140 prelates from across the region are expected to attend the event that will be held at the Pastoral Center of the Archdiocese of Bangkok in Baan Phu Waan, Thailand.
The gathering will carry the theme “FABC 50: Journeying together as peoples of Asia“…and they went a different way.” (Mt 2:12).
The gathering aims to reflect on the “re-emerging and emerging realities and challenges of the Church in Asia.”
“She faces re-emerging realities and challenges ad extra, in the Asian reality that surrounds her, as well as emerging realities and challenges ad intra, as she turns the page from being a ‘mission church’ to a ‘missionary Church,’” read the FABC announcement on its website.
The federation has earlier released a prayer for “FABC 50,” hoping that “awareness, interest, and a sense of participation can be created” in Asia.
“The Church is looking for new ways to continue serving the people and peoples of Asia; let us walk together to reflect, imagine, participate, and rediscover a new way of being a church in Asia,” said Archbishop Joseph Arshad of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, in a report on Radio Veritas Asia.
The FABC is a voluntary association of episcopal conferences in Asia that was established with the approval of the Holy See.
Its aim is to foster among its members solidarity and co-responsibility for the welfare of Church and society in Asia.
The FABC is currently led by Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, Myanmar.
