austraLasia #3350
YANGON: 16 January 2013 -- From 7-8 January, Fr Francis Moloney, a former Provincial of the Australia-Pacific Province, and currently the Senior Professorial Fellow at Australian Catholic University, spoke to all the Bishops of Myanmar. The meeting was held in a newly constructed building at the Catholic Bishops Conference, Myanmar. Organised by the Salesian Archbishop of Yangon, Archbishop Charles Bo, these two days were spent reflecting on two matters that the Bishops regarded as urgent for their Church, as it emerges from many years of "hidden life."
Following the directives of the Council and especially the subsequent passion of Pope Benedict XVI, Fr Moloney first spoke to the Bishops of the importance of the Word of God in the life of the Church today. Lively discussions surrounded the talks, as so much that was poined out to the Bishops had been impossible in the Church of Myanmar for many years. On the second day, Fr Moloney picked up the theme of the Synod for the Churches of Asia, held some years ago in Chiang Mai, Thailand: Telling the story of Jesus. Again the Bishops showed a keen interest in this presentation and its consequences, especially in the way in which Fr Moloney used the Gospel narratives, that are so familiar to us, to reach back to the person, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus, which is always surprising.
The days together were also marked by shared Eucharistic celebrations, at which Fr Moloney both presided and preached, and shared prayer and Eucharistic adoration. The atmosphere was universally cordial, and the days closed with a final dinner, held at the Archbishop's Residence, Yangon.
As well as working with the Bishops, Fr Moloney spent some time at St Joseph's National Seminary, Yangon, where he addressed, and received questions, from the 135 seminarians from all corners of Myanmar. The presence of an international scholar in the Seminary, and the lively faith and intellectual activity of so many young minds were mutually enriching. Fr Moloney also had a meal with the staff of the Seminary, where informal discussions about priestly and intellectual formation were at the centre of discussions.
YANGON: 16 January 2013 -- From 7-8 January, Fr Francis Moloney, a former Provincial of the Australia-Pacific Province, and currently the Senior Professorial Fellow at Australian Catholic University, spoke to all the Bishops of Myanmar. The meeting was held in a newly constructed building at the Catholic Bishops Conference, Myanmar. Organised by the Salesian Archbishop of Yangon, Archbishop Charles Bo, these two days were spent reflecting on two matters that the Bishops regarded as urgent for their Church, as it emerges from many years of "hidden life."
Following the directives of the Council and especially the subsequent passion of Pope Benedict XVI, Fr Moloney first spoke to the Bishops of the importance of the Word of God in the life of the Church today. Lively discussions surrounded the talks, as so much that was poined out to the Bishops had been impossible in the Church of Myanmar for many years. On the second day, Fr Moloney picked up the theme of the Synod for the Churches of Asia, held some years ago in Chiang Mai, Thailand: Telling the story of Jesus. Again the Bishops showed a keen interest in this presentation and its consequences, especially in the way in which Fr Moloney used the Gospel narratives, that are so familiar to us, to reach back to the person, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus, which is always surprising.
The days together were also marked by shared Eucharistic celebrations, at which Fr Moloney both presided and preached, and shared prayer and Eucharistic adoration. The atmosphere was universally cordial, and the days closed with a final dinner, held at the Archbishop's Residence, Yangon.
As well as working with the Bishops, Fr Moloney spent some time at St Joseph's National Seminary, Yangon, where he addressed, and received questions, from the 135 seminarians from all corners of Myanmar. The presence of an international scholar in the Seminary, and the lively faith and intellectual activity of so many young minds were mutually enriching. Fr Moloney also had a meal with the staff of the Seminary, where informal discussions about priestly and intellectual formation were at the centre of discussions.
