Convention jointly organised by The Pontifical Council for Culture,
The FABC-OESC,
The National Episcopal Conference of Thailand,
The Graduate School of Assumption University, Bangkok,
and Foundation Konrad-Adenauer

at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, Bangkok,
from Sunday, 31 January to Wednesday 3 February, 1999

The Convention will unfold itself in three phases centred on the mission of the Church sent by Christ to proclaim the Gospel, the Good News for all persons and for all cultures.

In the cultural context of Asia, which differs greatly from region to region, in which the cultures and ancient religions of the continent have shaped not only the philosophy but also the whole of culture, the Church gathers the positive elements, which take cognisance of the human person and his divine vocation.

The word of the Word of God the Creator, the Gospel, bears in itself the creative power of the Lord. That is why Christ is the source of radical newness, the font of a new culture rooted in His redeeming love. Since only the Gospel is absolute, in as much as it is the Word of God, the revelation of the Word made flesh in order to save and redeem humankind, the Church has the mission of purifying in the light of the Gospel the negative elements of cultures, especially those that do not respect the dignity of the human person, his own responsibility, and his supernatural vocation.

Having identified the most ancient elements which present themselves as «seeds of the Word» and as challenges to the proclamation of the Gospel, the Convention proposes to highlight those elements of greater importance, which Christians ought to promote for a new humanism that is both fully Christian and fully Asian. In fact, man is the path of the Church and the object of its mission. This humanism, the result of the newness brought by Christ, will be the result of a fruitful evangelisation and an authentic inculturation of the faith in Asia.

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TENTATIVE PROGRAMME

Sunday, 31 January, 1999
Evening of Arrival: Registration

FIRST DAY
(Monday, 1 February, 1999)

• 6.30 Morning Prayer integrated in the Eucharist
• 7.30 Breakfast
• 9.00 Word of Welcome: His Eminence Michael Cardinal Kitbunchu, Archbishop of Bangkok
• 9.15:9.30 Reading of Message of the Holy Father, His Excellency Mons. Luigi Bressan, Papal Nuncio
• 9.30:10.00 Keynote Address, His Eminence Paul Cardinal Poupard, President, Pontifical Council for Culture
• 10.00 Announcements
• 10.30 Coffee Break
• 10.45 Conference I: Prof. Oyanagi Yoshio, The Challenge of the Gospel through an Education truly Japanese and Catholic vis-a-vis Secular and Consumerist Cultural Trends in Japan
• 11.15:11.45 Open House: Clarifications/Questions
• 11.45 Announcements
• 12.00 Lunch Break
• 14.00:14.45 Workshop/Group Discussion
• 15.00 Videotape: Thai Culture (Dances)
• 15.30:16.00 Conference II: Dr. Vincent Shen, Elements of Chinese Traditional Humanism that can foster the Inculturation of the faith in Chinese Cultures
• 16.00:16.30 Open House: Clarifications/Questions
• 16.30:17.30 Workshop/Group Discussion
• 17.30 Concluding Remarks/Announcements
• 19.00 Dinner

SECOND DAY
(Tuesday, 2 February, 1999)

• 6.30 Morning Prayer integrated in the Eucharist
• 7.30 Breakfast
• 9.00 Opening Remarks/Reading and Passing of Reports of First Day
• 9.30:10.00 Conference III: Prof. Robert Magliola, Meditation as Common Feature of Religions in Asia with special focus on Buddhism and their contribution to a Civilisation of Love and a Culture of Peace
• 10.00:10.30 Open House: Clarfications/Questions
• 10.30 Coffee Break
• 11.00:12.00 Worskshop/Group Discussion
• 12.00 Lunch
• 13.00 Organisers' Team Meeting (Drafting of Reports)
• 15.00 Cultural Programme (Thai Group)
• 15.30:16.00 Conference IV: Dr. Robert Sassone, Asian Cultures faced with the Hopes and Challenges for Evangelisation: their purification and promotion
• 16.00:16.30 Open House: Clarifications/Questions
• 16.30:17.30 Worskshop/Group Discussion
• 17.30 Concluding Remarks/Announcements
• 19.00 Dinner

THIRD DAY
(Wednesday, 3 February, 1999)

• 6.30 Morning Prayer integrated in the Eucharist
• 7.30 Breakfast
• 9.00 Opening Remarks, Reading and Passing of Reports of Second Day
• 9.30 Conference V: Fr. George Palackapilly SDB, "Rays of the Light" and "Seeds of the Word" in the Cultures of Indigenous Peoples in Asia
• 10.00:10.30 Open House: Clarfications/Questions
• 10.30 Coffee Break
• 11.00:12.00 Workshop/Group Discussion
• 12.00 Lunch
• 13.00 Organisers' Team Meeting (Drafting of Final Statement)
• 15.30 Reading of Final Statement
  Amending of Final Statement
  Passing of Final Statement
• 17.30 Concluding Prayer Service of Thanksgiving
  Closing of the Convention
• 19.00 Dinner