The Office of Human Development of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (OHD-FABC) organized 8^th Bishops’ Institute for Social Action (BISA) where the Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Religious, Women and Men and Lay Sisters and Brothers (thirty-seven Participants) from seventeen countries gathered at Camillian Pastoral Care Centre, Bangkok in Thailand and tried to immerse in the lives of the most vulnerable and marginalized people, reflected over experiences and deliberated upon a pastoral-theological program of action in the light of CST on January 18 – 24, 2012. The theme of the 8^th BISA (Bishops’ Institute for Social Action) was "Becoming the Church of the Poor and the Marginalized in Asia.’ Bishop Gervas Rozario and Fr. Albert T. Rozario of Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace participated in that program.

 

BISA VIII adopted following strategies:

 

1. Immersion into the lives of the vulnerable people (Poor and Marginalized, Migrants, Indigenous, HIV affected, trafficked women);
2. Reflection on the Immersion Program (the experience of living amidst the marginalized, migrants, indigenous people, victim of HIV/AIDS and Human trafficking;
3. Inputs, Deliberations and Reflections: Reflections on the various issues of the people of Asia and the responses of the Church in the light of the Catholic Social Teachings.
4. Through that pastoral-theological program of action, the participants wanted to share with the church in Asia , the concerns of the marginalized and propose some recommendations towards action, which are applicable to all sectors. Their reflections and formulation of pastoral theological program of actions kept in mind the various sectors like the Parish/BCCs, BECs, Diocese, Conferences, four Asian Zones (Central, Southeast, South and East) and Asia as a whole.

 

BISA VIII came up with some proposals for OHD – FABC for the future BISA series and Pastoral-Theological Program of Action for Asia. BISA VIII resolves

 

(i)                  to disseminate CST in the form and manner our people can understand and put into practice in our own place,

 

(ii)                resolves that all the efforts of human development should become an integral part of our pastoral policies, program and priorities,

 

(iii)               resolves to educate the Church and society regarding the issues of these most marginalized and vulnerable communities and evolve programs of action to address their issues,

 

(iv)              resolves to network with the like minded faith and secular organizations and engage in advocacy work with local, provincial, national, Regional Organizations and Government,

 

(v)                resolves to become the Church of the poor that all our parishes, institutions, dioceses and conferences strive towards becoming the Church of the poor.

 

(vi)              resolves proactively to become the voice of the poor concretely,

 

(vii)             in all reflections, we need to get back to the pastoral cycle of immersion, reflection and action.

 

(viii)           resolves to rededicate to work for the Reign of God and its values of Justice and Peace especially amidst the suffering millions in Aisa. We are to become agents of social change by enabling the poor and the marginalized to claim their economic, social and cultural entitlements. (Source: Message from BISA – VIII).