The participants of the Pastoral Gathering with Bishop Joel Baylon, IFFAsia Chairman of the Board.
The 6th Fondacio Asia Pastoral Gathering was held last October 26 – November 5, 2012 at the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Formation Center in Quezon City, Philippines. The event brought together 55 participants from 10 different countries to build communion with one another, to understand the call and challenges of mission on the ground, and to encourage co-responsibility and commitment among each one to build and sustain the one mission together.
The participants were members and friends of the different Fondacio communities and missions in Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Maddy Edwards of Fondacio UK was present to give a session on developing project proposals; she was accompanied by two youth leaders, Michael and Roisin, who participated actively and shared about their desire to continue to collaborate with the Asian community and help in the missions in the region. Priest friends from Japan and China, who were meeting Fondacio for the first time, also attended the event to participate, support and see how to collaborate in the future.
Fondacio President Nacho Rosselot, Vice President Francois Prouteau, and Council member for Asia Charles Bertille provided valuable input on sustaining the call and mission by reinventing the community and putting in place new structures of working together. They challenged everyone to make this paradigm shift, and invited each one to be in an attitude of trust and faith so that Fondacio can fully respond to the mission needs in Asia and work more effectively with one another.
This paradigm shift involves creatively integrating the principles of mission with others, path of transformation and communitarian dimension in all the programs and activities of the community. These three are essential for both common and personal missions to flourish, and should be given equal importance. In front of this paradigm shift, each one is called to be Christ's co-creator in Asia.
With the call of the Council to develop and implement missions to help the poor, each country looked at the different mission projects in its landscape, and started to develop a plan which will help particularly in raising needed funds for the sustainability of these projects. For the participants, the exercise was a way of concretizing “dreams”, and developing a more pastoral vision and new skills to be effective in the mission. Projects that were developed included, among others, training and social service centers and meeting places for out-of-school youth, gift shop, pre-school, English and cooking classes.
During the send-off mass, Bishop Joel Baylon, IFFAsia Chairman of the Board, challenged each one, as Jesus challenged his disciples, to exert more conscious effort to be more outward-looking, that is, being less concerned with ourselves and our members, but giving more love for our neighbors. With this admonition still ringing in everyone's ears, members of each sub-region were prayed over and sent off to the missions that are waiting for them in their own countries.
Though it was a long-stretched gathering, each one actively participated, and came out feeling refreshed, encouraged, inspired and empowered. There was an experience of the sense of community and understanding more who Fondacio is. Each one felt motivated to go on and continue living this “one mission of Jesus”.
Some of the participants' testimonies after the Pastoral Gathering:
“I was inspired by the mission experiences of the other participants. I feel that our community needs to stand up by ourselves, but to open to the others.” (China)
“I can see clearly my personal call and that of my community, to move forward and meet the need in my local Church.” (Myanmar)
“It was a learning and inspiring gathering. I know more clearly Fondacio’s mission in the Asian Church and society. So, I can better take part in the mission and respond to the call.” (Cambodia)
“We are not alone in the mission; we are together with the others as one community in the one mission. I see hope for the future of laity in Asia.” (Vietnam)
“What was planted in my life is this imitation of Christ who is always on the move – searching, touching, loving everyone. A missionary is another Christ in the world. The Philippine community has opened its eyes to this.” (Philippines)
“It was the beginning of unity between East and West Malaysia, bringing hope to the community, walking towards one mission in one country. There is also a better structure that will take care of the growing community in Asia.” (Malaysia)
The participants were members and friends of the different Fondacio communities and missions in Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Maddy Edwards of Fondacio UK was present to give a session on developing project proposals; she was accompanied by two youth leaders, Michael and Roisin, who participated actively and shared about their desire to continue to collaborate with the Asian community and help in the missions in the region. Priest friends from Japan and China, who were meeting Fondacio for the first time, also attended the event to participate, support and see how to collaborate in the future.
Reflections from Nacho Rosselot and Francois Prouteau.
Fondacio President Nacho Rosselot, Vice President Francois Prouteau, and Council member for Asia Charles Bertille provided valuable input on sustaining the call and mission by reinventing the community and putting in place new structures of working together. They challenged everyone to make this paradigm shift, and invited each one to be in an attitude of trust and faith so that Fondacio can fully respond to the mission needs in Asia and work more effectively with one another.
This paradigm shift involves creatively integrating the principles of mission with others, path of transformation and communitarian dimension in all the programs and activities of the community. These three are essential for both common and personal missions to flourish, and should be given equal importance. In front of this paradigm shift, each one is called to be Christ's co-creator in Asia.
Having fun during the community feast.
With the call of the Council to develop and implement missions to help the poor, each country looked at the different mission projects in its landscape, and started to develop a plan which will help particularly in raising needed funds for the sustainability of these projects. For the participants, the exercise was a way of concretizing “dreams”, and developing a more pastoral vision and new skills to be effective in the mission. Projects that were developed included, among others, training and social service centers and meeting places for out-of-school youth, gift shop, pre-school, English and cooking classes.
During the send-off mass, Bishop Joel Baylon, IFFAsia Chairman of the Board, challenged each one, as Jesus challenged his disciples, to exert more conscious effort to be more outward-looking, that is, being less concerned with ourselves and our members, but giving more love for our neighbors. With this admonition still ringing in everyone's ears, members of each sub-region were prayed over and sent off to the missions that are waiting for them in their own countries.
Each sub-region was sent off during the final Eucharist celebration.
Though it was a long-stretched gathering, each one actively participated, and came out feeling refreshed, encouraged, inspired and empowered. There was an experience of the sense of community and understanding more who Fondacio is. Each one felt motivated to go on and continue living this “one mission of Jesus”.
Some of the participants' testimonies after the Pastoral Gathering:
“I was inspired by the mission experiences of the other participants. I feel that our community needs to stand up by ourselves, but to open to the others.” (China)
“I can see clearly my personal call and that of my community, to move forward and meet the need in my local Church.” (Myanmar)
“It was a learning and inspiring gathering. I know more clearly Fondacio’s mission in the Asian Church and society. So, I can better take part in the mission and respond to the call.” (Cambodia)
“We are not alone in the mission; we are together with the others as one community in the one mission. I see hope for the future of laity in Asia.” (Vietnam)
“What was planted in my life is this imitation of Christ who is always on the move – searching, touching, loving everyone. A missionary is another Christ in the world. The Philippine community has opened its eyes to this.” (Philippines)
“It was the beginning of unity between East and West Malaysia, bringing hope to the community, walking towards one mission in one country. There is also a better structure that will take care of the growing community in Asia.” (Malaysia)
A time for each sub-region to come together and plan.
