The Assembly of the Conference of Asia Oceania was held after the 3rd Phase ended from the 13th to 15th of August 2023 at Minburi Bangkok in Thailand. The Conference Assembly addressed the ways in which the Strategic Plan voted on unanimously by the Conference at the 3rd Phase would be implemented at the level of the 3 Confederations and in the Units. The Three Confederations met to discuss how to diffuse the information of the 3rd Phase and Assembly among the confreres of each Unit as well as how to practically incarnate the plan in the Units, Confederations and Conference. Many good suggestions were presented.
Some of the highlights of the Assembly were there presentation of the work done by the Commission for Partnership for Mission by Portia the lay mission partner present at the Conference; the presentation of the proposal for an International Community in Japan for New Evangelization, the Conference Assembly voting unanimously to give US $ 10,000/- annually to the Conference of Africa and Madagascar as a way to respond to the solidarity with Africa and Madagascar; the presentation from the General Government on Restructuring and Reconfiguration in the Congregation at the moment along with the challenges, plan of action and dateline for the entire Congregation; a panel sharing on leadership and its challenges today by Fr Edward Joseph (Provincial of Bangalore), Fr Peter Jittapong (Provincial of Thailand), Fr Jacobus (Provincial of Indonesia), Ms Portia (Lay mission partner), and Fr Jovencio Ma (Conference Coordinator). The nominations for Conference Coordinator were successfully finished and three names were chosen and will be sent to the General Government.
The Conference Assembly also elected the following confreres as Council Members for the Conference Council: Fr Edward Joseph (Provincial of Bangalore), Fr Peter Jittapon (Provincial of Thailand) and Fr Ino Cueto (V. Provincial of Malaysia and Singapore). Further presentations included the Asia Youth gathering fixed for 30th June to 5th July 2024 at Sumba in Indonesia, the Conference Meeting of Major Superiors fixed for 8th to 10th July 2024 at Bali in Indonesia, the Mid Sexennial and Assembly fixed for November 2025, and various presentations on different common mission and common formation in the Conference.
The Assembly concluded with a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr Jovencio Ma (Conference Coordinator) and Homily given by Ms Portia (Lay Mission Partner). After the Eucharist, the confreres felicitated Fr Jovencio for his 13 years of service to the Conference as Coordinator and presented him with a signed card, a hand-painted icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and a gift from the Province of Thailand. Each confrere and lay partner present shared a work about how Fr Jovencio Ma had touched their lives over the past 13 years. The confreres celebrated with the vivat sung for Fr Jovencio Ma and a special cake prepared and cut and a grand celebration of song and food. The Conference Assembly concluded with much hope and enthusiasm for the implementation of the Conference’s Strategic Plan moving into the future.
Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
Consultor General
