22nd Asian Liturgy Forum
New Taipei City, Taiwan
S T A T E M E N T
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
We, the delegates to the 22nd Asian Liturgy Forum from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, gathered together at Chinatrust Hotel, Xindian, New Taipei City, Taiwan on October 15-19, 2018 to share our reflections and pastoral experiences related to the intimate connection between the Bible and the Liturgy. It is truly providential that this year’s meeting is held right after the canonization of St. Pope Paul VI, “the Pope of the Vatican II Liturgical Reform,” in the wake of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment.
We are happy to share some conclusions from our refreshing and enriching discussions.
- We uphold the Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini’s affirmation that “every liturgical action is by its nature steeped in Sacred Scripture (cf. SC, n. 24)” and, vice versa, “the Word of God constantly proclaimed in the liturgy is always a living and effective Word through the power of the Holy Spirit” (n. 52). It is in this Word-Event encounter with the Risen Lord as in Emmaus that the community receives nourishment that “enlightens the mind, strengthens the will and fires the heart of men and women with the Word” (DV n. 23).
- We are inspired to hear from one another the many ways in which the Word of God is celebrated in order that “the treasures of the bible may be opened up more lavishly” and “that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God’s word” (SC 51).
- So that the nourishment of the Scriptures and the Liturgy can be dispensed fruitfully to the People of God there is a need for a collaborative working relation to be fostered among pastors, liturgists, Bible experts, and catechists. Following the guidelines of the Apostolic Letter Magnum Principium, the task of translation which is an important component of inculturation must be faithfully pursued and carried out more effectively for the benefit of the whole Church.
- We are heartened to know that more and more the clergy give serious attention to the Homiletic Directory’s exhortation that homilies be “drawn mainly from scriptural and liturgical sources, being a proclamation of God’s wonderful works in the history of salvation, the mystery of Christ ever made present and active within us, especially in the celebration of the liturgy” (cf. SC 35.2). We also encourage that more effort be extended to promote the ongoing formation of the clergy in the ministry of the Word.
- We recognize that the Liturgy of the Hours has an undoubted place among the forms of prayer which give pride of place to the Sacred Scripture. We encourage more effort among pastors, the religious and lay leaders to promote it in dioceses and parishes as “a privileged form of hearing the word of God, inasmuch as it brings the faithful into contact with Scripture and the living Tradition of the Church” (Verbum Domini, 62). 49
- We are grateful for the invaluable contribution of the lay missionaries of the Word in promoting a greater love and hunger for the Word of God among the lay faithful by their committed service and witness of life. We support the need for their ongoing formation which should be theological, biblical, liturgical, pastoral, cultural, and spiritual.
- The use of various media platforms: print, broadcast, web-based and mobile technologies, including social media, should be availed of with discernment and “strengthened effectively” (Inter Mirifica, n. 18) as a modern means of liturgical–biblical formation. The digitalization of these abundant formation resources enhances interactive dialogue and thus attract the faithful to a fuller experience of the life of faith (cf. Instruction “The Church and Internet,” n. 5).
- We commend to the motherly protection and guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Word (VD, n. 124) and Star of the New Evangelization (EG, n. 287), all our brothers and sisters in Asia who are experiencing challenges and difficulties as they live, proclaim and witness to the Christian faith in the mission of proclaiming the Word.
We are grateful to His Excellency Most Rev. John Hung, SVD, D.D., Archbishop of Taipei, Most Rev. Martin Su, D.D., President of the Commission for Sacred Liturgy, Rev. Fr. Charles Pan, C.M, the clergy of Taiwan, and their lay collaborators, for having graciously hosted our meeting. The forum has been an occasion of enriching fellowship and sharing because of their most generous hospitality.
That in all things God may be glorified.
