By Santosh Digal
Colombo: The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC) on December 4 ended their eleventh plenary assembly consecrating Catholic families in Asia to the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, Archbishop of Catabato in the Philippines, led the recital of prayer inside St. Lucia’s Cathedral of Archdiocese of Colombo.
The bishops addressed the theme “The Asian Catholic Family: Domestic Church of the Poor on a Mission of Mercy” during their November 28-December 4 plenary.
The 159-word consecration prayer was read during a Mass led by FABC president Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay.
More than 3,000 people, including the plenary participants attended the Mass.
The term “Holy Family” refers to a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church in honor of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a family. Besides, the Holy Family is deemed as a model or Christian families.
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, you lived in Asia. We praise, glorify and thank you as the sublime family, the example of a sanctuary of love and life, a living Gospel, the icon of God’s mercy and compassion.
O Holy Family of Nazareth, we consecrate to you today our Catholic families in Asia amidst the difficulties that they daily face.
May they be families of love and prayer, in constant communion with God.
May God our Father protect and give them strength in their daily striving to do His will.
May the Holy Spirit inspire and guide them to reach out to other families, especially to those in need. May they experience the loving presence of Jesus in the joys and sorrows of their lives.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, be the companion of our Catholic families in Asia in their journey to become, in word and deed, domestic churches of the poor on a mission of mercy and compassion. Amen”
END
(Santosh Digal of Matters India (www.mattersindia.com) prepared this report for FABC Office of Social Communication.]