KUALA LUMPUR — The journey of the first consultation meeting on synodal formation in Asia held in Pattaya, Thailand September 11 – 15, began with the experience of the unique cultural expressions of synodal formation and the exceptional traditions of Asia through the participation of 73 delegates comprising of archbishops, bishops, priests, nuns, and laity across 17 countries in Asia.
”Among the various sessions, I was impressed with the term “taking off our shoes”, which is the customarily practice of Asians to remove their shoes before entering houses or places of worship, a beautiful symbol of our synod journey as the Church in Asia. It also resounded with the experience of Moses when he was told to remove his shoes as he was on holy ground, a mark of reverence, respect, humility, and equality,
”At the same time, it is important to relate to being “barefooted”, being conscious of the soil, being aware of the earth that we are called to protect and care for, while being identified to be amongst the poor, as shoes are a symbol of status. Here, I recognised the importance of living a synodal lifestyle embedded in our Asian culture and values that amplifiy equivalence, that no one is left behind and the voices of the people are heard and addressed.
Among the landscapes of synodal living was the embodiment of our culture and traditions of a synodal journey, where I saw Asia characterised by the diversity of cultures, traditions, languages, races, and religions, all in a potpourri called Malaysia. It is now our responsibility to ensure that the practice of synodality that began in 1976 continues in all the parishes both at district and diocesan levels to capture and map the synodal lifestyle for the spiritual wellbeing of God’s people.
The tool of synodal spiritual conversation for the “process of listening”, brought the synergy and convergence with the spirit of synodality for the Church in Asia. At the group workshops for ministries in the Church in Asia, we came together to discern the vision characteristics and approaches of synodal formation based on the Bangkok Document of the FABC 50 General Conference, the Final Document of the Asian Continental Assembly on Synodality (ACAS), and the Instrumentum Laboris. I participated in the workshop group to formulate the action plan for BECs in preparation for the upcoming XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
Finally, it is at this consultation meeting that I was able to reflect and become aware of insights within cultural issues that required attention for the presence of God and the importance of being in touch with our own values, opinions and feelings, while countering cultural tendencies that hindered attentive listening that inhibite spiritual sensitivities. Today, the entire synodal journey has opened the door for a greater renewal in the life of the Church in Asia, and for Malaysia that’s truly Asia.
