FINAL STATEMENT OF 5TH AsIPA GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Part 2)

2. ASIAN REALITIES IN SCCs

2.1 One of the tangible results of SCCs is the interest in the Word of God. Many members own a Bible and make efforts to know the Bible better.

2.2 One of the most visible fruits of SCCs sharing and living the Word is the growing sense of belonging in these communities.

2.3 Being guided by the Word of God, SCCs in participating countries are growing in their commitment to reach out to those in need in the neighbourhood and are enabled to read the ‘signs of the times’ and respond in the light of the Gospel.

2.4 Confirming what Pope John Paul II stated in Redemptoris Missio para 51, in many countries, SCCs have become centres for daily catechesis and contextualized faith formation. They are agents of evangelization in their own way in the local context, enabling the community to take the responsibility for the mission of sharing the message of Christian hope, peace and joy with the neighbours.

2.5 Although participation in Eucharist celebrations has increased because of active involvement in SCCs; in many parts of Asia the communities are not able to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist regularly due to lack of ordained ministers.

2.6 In some countries especially in the cities, due to the heavy schedule of work and travel, many SCCs have a low attendance for the Eucharist and for Gospel Sharing.

2.7 The experience of Gospel Sharing ‘sharing the word’ has shown that the Word of God is as important as the ‘breaking of bread’ in leading SCCs to a Christ experience. The participants also acknowledged the various other methods ad approaches used in different Asian countries to break the Word of God in SCCs.

2.8 The experience of various Gospel Sharing methods and the Eucharistic celebrations during this Assembly made us aware of the social and political realities in the region and how the SCCs are a sign of hope.

(to be continued...)