A New Commission on Synodality Established by FABC
By: Asia News
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The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) has established a new Commission on Synodality to facilitate collaboration among the Churches of the continent and translate Pope Francis’ vision into their respective contexts. The commission includes religious and lay participants from the recent Synod in Rome.
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan and President of the Philippine Episcopal Conference, will lead the new Commission. The decision was made during the FABC’s annual Central Committee meeting in Bangkok on March 12-13.
The Commission aims to promote ongoing formation in synodality for Asian bishops, facilitate resource sharing among different Episcopal conferences, and work with FABC offices and other continental Episcopal organizations to implement the synodal path outlined by Pope Francis.
The establishment of this new Commission was announced by Cardinal Felipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Damao, upon assuming leadership of the FABC. He emphasized the need for more effective collaboration among dioceses, Episcopal conferences, and Churches across continents. A key initiative during his tenure will be organizing a seminar for bishops from across Asia to provide a platform for collaboration.
Alongside Cardinal David, the Commission’s Executive Secretary will be Father Clarence Devadass from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. The other seven members include representatives like Father William LaRousse, Christian Kheng from Singapore, Father Vimal Tirimana from Sri Lanka, Estella Padilla from the Philippines, Momoko Nishimura from Japan, Father Enrico Ayo from the Philippines, and Sister Lalitha Thomas from India. These individuals represented the Asian Churches at the Synod sessions in Rome in 2023 and 2024.
