Please see the previous posting dated 5 November 2010. (Lily)
Union of Catholic Asian News (http://www.ucanews.com/2010/11/12/malaysia-hosts-chinese-bible-congress/)
Malaysia hosts Chinese Bible Congress , 12 November 2010
by Nina Chan, Kuala Lumpur
Participants at the Ninth United Chinese Catholic Biblical Association Congress held in Kuala Lumpur
More than 120 Chinese-speaking Bible scholars from 15 countries throughout Asia and beyond are in Kuala Lumpur to reflect on manifesting the Word of God.
Malaysia hosts for the first time the Ninth United Chinese Catholic Biblical Association (UCCBA) Congress on Nov. 11-15, which is seen as another milestone to network Chinese-speaking Bible scholars worldwide to discuss the Catholic Church’s challenges, especially in mainland China.
Of the participants, 28 are from mainland China and 20 from Taiwan. The rest are from various Asian countries as well as Australia and Europe. Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun and Malaysian Archbishop John Ha of Kuching were among the 28 priests, 11 Religious and more than 80 laypersons who witnessed the Congress’ opening ceremony on Nov. 11. The theme of the congress is Living Out the Word to Spread God’s Kingdom.
Wu Chang Jung, a retired soldier from Taiwan, was delighted to see a big Chinese delegation. “I am very happy to meet all of them, especially those from China…I was touched by their enthusiasm and their faith,” he said.
Maria Yan, a Malaysian active in the China Mission project, added that she was encouraged upon seeing many Chinese people concerned for the Chinese apostolate.
Father Lucas Ng, a member of the Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord in Malaysia, said the Chinese-speaking Catholic community faces many challenges. First, Christians are a minority in the Muslim-majority country. Second, Chinese-speaking Catholics are also marginalized within the local Catholic Church.
“We have been persecuted all these years, that is why we know how to treasure the gift of faith,” he said observing that most of the Chinese Sunday Masses in Malaysia is full of both the young and the elderly.
The congress also marks the 45th anniversary of the promulgation of the Second Vatican Council documents Dei Verbum (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation) and Apostolicam Actuositatem (The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity).
AS11953.1627
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