Apostolic Nuncio briefs region’s bishops on CFM talk

PLENTONG – The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Joseph Marino, briefed the arch/bishops at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB) on a talk in which he delivered to the Christian Federation of Malaysia on 26 April 2017.

The conference was held at the Majodi Centre here on July 10-14.

The primary theme, the nuncio said, arising from the teaching of Pope Francis, is our obligation to build a culture of encounter and represents an extension of the talk held in January this year.

The nuncio informed the CBC that the audience with Pope Francis on the occasion of their ad limina visit is scheduled for February 8 next year.

He said, “During your time in Rome, it is usual to call upon the different Roman Dicasteries, including the Secretariat of State,” adding the Nunciature in Malaysia can assist in setting up the appointments.

Abp Marino also reminded the arch/bishops that invitations to events in their respective dioceses should be addressed to the Nuncio and signed by the arch/bishop. He said the new Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life has written to the president of the CBCMSB indicating that a set of guidelines will be formulated about the formation of the laity.

He said that the dicastery asks whether the bishops’ conference has already an office or committee which is committed exclusively to the study, promotion and mission of the lay faithful and for information on it.

He noted that the dicastery requests a response to its inquiry by the end of October 2017.

He urged the arch/bishops to send in the response in three copies to the nunciature for transmission.

“The role of the laity is essential to the life of the Church and their relative formation must be a priority in the various dioceses,” he added.

The next day the CBCMSB proceeded according to the agenda that included matters to do with Regional Liturgical Commission, Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs, Christian Federation of Malaysia, Catechetics, Malaysian Catholic Education Council and Lay Apostolate.

The next CBCMSB will be in January next year from 8 – 12. As usual, there will be a joint meeting with the Conference of Religious Major Superiors of Malaysia- Singapore-Brunei. –heraldmalaysiaonline