austraLasia #2475

Whispering the Gospel into Asia's soul!

MANILA: 10th August 2009 -- The man who introduced Hindu voices into the Pope's Way of the Cross, and who is no stranger to conflict, having successfully led the Joint Peace Team in North East India to resolve many local conflicts over a dozen years is stepping into the fray once more - this time in the presence of a 100 fellow bishops and one visiting, papal-appointed Cardinal.  Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, Salesian Archbishop of Guwahati, is addressing the FABC, the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences, in Manila at its annual meeting commencing today and lasting until 16th August. Cardinal Francis Arinze has been appointed by the Pope as his special representative for the event. Under the general conference theme of 'Living the Eucharist in Asia', Archbishop Menamparampil is telling his episcopal brothers that 'whispering the Gospel' is a special Asian trait and part of what he claims is needed for a 'new model of evangelisation for Asia'.
    Archbishop Menamparampil is revered in the Catholic world for his experience as a practical evangeliser and his profound and provocative expression of that  viva voce, as well as through his writings.  He is telling the bishops that there is need for a triple dialogue today for evangelisation in Asia: with the poor, with cultures and with religions.  He cites names like Teresa of Calcutta, Mahatma Gandhi and the Dalai Lama as representative of the Asian spirit with which the Church must be in dialogue.  The Dalai Lama, Gandhi and Mother Teresa, he says, have interpreted the Asian mind better than many a social activist has - and often by touching the soul, the inner being of the people, in quiet ways. Proclaiming the Gospel is important he says, but there is an Asian way of doing it.  We have to 'whisper the Gospel in the Asian soul'. It's a twist on Lk 12:3 that sets one thinking!  The archbishop points out that in Asia sacred words and precious secrets are always whispered - but the corollary of this kind of approach is real closeness to people.
    Archbishop Menamparampil's writings are beginning to appear in prestigious collections.  Intratext has begun to collect them.  You will also find a dozen or so of his titles in SDL.

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Title: australasia 2475
Subject and key words: EAO General: Menamparampil. Whispering the Gospel
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2475