An Invitation to join the Asian Church Synodal Celebration through Art, Story and Poem

KOTA KINABALU: Members of the Catholic community here are being invited to submit their reflections on Synod on Synodality – a major ecclesiastical movement that is transforming the Church.

The reflections in the form of art, stories and poetry should reveal the face of Christianity and the Church in Asia.

Federation of Asian Bishops Conference (FABC) Office of Social Communication Executive Secretary Fr. George Plathottam said selected submissions would be published in a book.

Stating that it was not a competition but an expression of faith, Fr Plathottam said the theme of the works could include people journeying together in faith: Communion, Participation, Mission.

The works could also look at Asian Christians in dialogue with the poor, religions, and cultures or the church reaching out to the needy and the poor- church of diakonia or service.

The creative expressions could also focus on the Church’s involvement during natural disasters, floods, draught, earthquakes, typhoon/cyclonic storms or man made conflicts, wars, violence, ethnic clashes, responding to atrocities on women, gender violence, child marriage, children in crime, drug addiction, domestic violence, against poverty and hunger, food insecurity, migration, environmental concerns.

The creative works could also focus on Christ’s disciples living a dialogue of life such as people of various faiths living together in harmony. These could also look at Christians called to live for others, to bear witness to love, forgiveness and giving while recognising the dignity of every person as a child of God.

Submissions could also explore the theme of the Church as the ekklesia; people of God, a community in Christ made children of God through baptism and nourished by the Word and Sacraments, journeying toward heaven.

“It is about a people called to mission to proclaim the love of God to everyone,” Fr. Plathottam said.

He said artistic submissions could be in the form of paintings, graphic works, images, icons or illustrations.

Submissions in the form of stories should be in English and if possible, illustrated with photographs or drawings. Each submission should include a note on the community or ethnic group and local church whose story is narrated.

All submissions should be emailed to secfabcosc@gmail.com by Jan 15, 2023.