The Final Statement of ASPAC
THE FINAL STATEMENT OF ASPAC
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
ASPAC BA COORDINATORS’ MEETING
MAY 20-26, 2007
FINAL STATEMENT
We the twenty enthusiastic Biblical Apostolate coordinators, representing the different provinces/regions in the SVD Asia Pacific Zone, gathered in Baguio City and San Fernando City,
As we looked into our zonal situation, we are encouraged to find confreres who are committed in animating one another in reading the Bible and living the Word. Earnest efforts have been made to integrate the four SVD characteristic dimensions into our missionary life as well as in our formation programs. Worthy of noting is the contribution of confreres to both the local and universal Church through the Biblical Apostolate and through their cooperation in the Catholic Biblical Federation.
The rich religious pluralistic heritage and environment of our people and their thirst for the Word of God has given birth to a considerable number of lay partners committed in the Biblical Apostolate. Even though there is a constant effort to inculturate the Word of God in our liturgies and activities, we know that we can still do more. We should also improve our communication among coordinators and our participation in important milestone celebrations in the Church that have to do with the Biblical Apostolate.
Reflecting upon this situation, we find a meaningful and challenging dynamics for our Biblical Apostolate between LIFE and TEXT. The movement from LIFE to TEXT starts when we encounter the people. They become our partners with concrete names and faces. Their present context, their aspirations and questions help us to read these realities in the light of God’s Word (cf. Mk 7:24-30). The movement from TEXT to LIFE consists in returning to the sources. In the light of the XVI General Chapter we are called to be animators among our confreres for them to become Word-centered communities. The TEXT (Bible, Constitutions and other SVD Documents) is a permanent reminder of the centrality of God’s Word in our life and mission (cf: IDW 6, 29).
- Journeying with St. Arnold and
St. Joseph in the next triennium, we, the ASPAC Biblical Coordinators, commit ourselves to witnessing to the Word in the spirit of Prophetic Dialogue through: - Integrating the Word of God in all our ministries, trying to attune ourselves with the dynamics of finding a balance between life and text;
- Looking for new and creative ways of reading, sharing and living the Word of God in daily life;
- Allowing ourselves to be evangelized by our dialogue partners as we evangelize them through ongoing biblical-pastoral formation;
- Strengthening the continuity of the Biblical Apostolate Programs and the integration of the BA (directives, guidelines, policies) into the over all direction of the province;
- Improving communication among ourselves, especially on zonal events and celebrations (BA, centennial of
St. Joseph and St. Arnold, UCCBA).
In conclusion, doing BA should start with ourselves as St. Joseph Freinademetz said, “How happy it should make us to be allowed to help in some small way in sowing the good seed, the Divine Word. Before that Word can be entrusted to us, however, the Divine Gardener demands that we undergo a kind of test, that we first cultivate a small plot, our own heart” (As Wine Poured Out, p. 41).
ASPAC BA COORDINATORS
25 May 2007
PHN PROVINCIALATE
LA UNION,
fr. heart,svd/WEBSITE/BA (The Final Statement of ASPAC)