By Matters India Reporter
Yangon: Cardinal Charles Maug Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and head of the Catholic Church in Myanmar, is scheduled to address the diamond jubilee of Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) on Oct 15.
More than 6,000 thousand Christians from various Christian denominations, ecumenical councils and related organizations from Asia and outside, are to attend the event, said Mathews George Chunakara, general secretary, CCA. A few Catholics from Asia and Myanmar are also expected.
“We are grateful to God CCA marks the 60th anniversary of its founding in 1957, as the first regional ecumenical organization in the world. It is a celebration of journeying together of the Asian Churches and all members of the wider ecumenical family and fellowship,” Chunakara told Matters India.
The theme of the celebration is “Journeying together: prophetic witness to the truth and light in Asia.”
“As the theme resonates with the present realities in Asia, it will be helpful for Asian churches to reflect on the mission and prophetic witness of Asian churches in the midst of many adverse realities, and to emphasize the hope and trust in God’s promises for all God’s people in Asia,” Chunakara said.
CCA has significantly contributed to the nurturing and strengthening of the ecumenical vision and mission in Asia.
Besides, Cardinal Bo, Bishop Willem T P Simarmata, moderator of CCA, and Reverend Olav Fykse Tviet, general secretary of World Council of Churches, are to address at the rare event.
Various programs will witness the commemoration of the diamond jubilee of the CCA. Participants will worship in the morning with local Christians in Yangon, a thanksgiving service and public meeting in the afternoon, cultural program in the evening. A short video documentary depicting the historic journey of the CCA will be screened during the event.
The event coincides with the Asia Mission Conference, which began on Oct 11 in Yangon, Myanmar, Buddhist majority country in South Asia.
Myanmar Baptist Convention and Myanmar Council of Churches are hosting CCA jubilee as well as the congress that ends on October 17.