Catholic bishops and Church officials from Asia and Australia have met in Taipei to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in the pastoral care of migrants, refugees, seafarers, fishers, and their families. Source: UCA News.
The November 10-11 meeting brought together bishops and representatives of national episcopal commissions responsible for migrants and people on the move in Australia, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Japan and India
Among those present was Canberra-Goulburn Archbishop Christopher Prowse, the Chairman of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry.
The Asia-Australia province of the Scalabrinians, along with the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, jointly organised the meeting.
The meeting, initiated by the Scalabrini Missionaries, who specialise in working with migrants and refugees, aimed to strengthen cooperation between local Catholic Churches and the missionary congregation in responding to the challenges of migration and human mobility.
The discussions addressed the challenges facing migrant workers, seafarers and fishers, as well as families separated by migration. Participants also examined ways to protect migrants’ rights, promote their dignity and strengthen their participation in society and the Church.
Vatican official Pascale Debane, regional coordinator for Asia, the Middle East and Oceania in the dicastery’s Listening and Dialogue Section, was among the keynote speakers.
She suggested that each bishops’ conference designate one person to handle migration issues, rather than establishing a project.
Ms Debane also noted a changing migration pattern. In the past, migration involved specific points, but it has become more complex, with multiple factors and centres involved at the same time, she said.
“Therefore, pastoral care for people on the move needs to go beyond the structure of the churches, seeking the real people outside the church building. It will help migrants recognise the face of Christ,” she said.
Taiwanese government officials also participated, including Virginia Y.C. Chen, deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Department of European Affairs, and Amy Wang, an assistant director-general.
The meeting gave Church leaders and government representatives a platform to discuss shared concerns about the dignity, safety and rights of migrants across the Asia-Pacific region.
Suggestions included introducing mobile phone apps to improve communication, enhancing a system to coordinate the Church’s work among migrants, and establishing a data centre on migrants.
FULL STORY
Asian, Australian Church leaders discuss migrant ministry in Taiwan (UCA News)
