Fr. Benny Phang, O.Carm.
Asia is the birthplace of many great religions, and among them is Christianity. The apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Asia praises God in explaining this continent, “It was in fact in Asia that God revealed and fulfilled his saving purpose from the beginning. He guided the patriarchs (cf. Gen 12) and called Moses to lead his people to freedom (cf. Ex 3:10). He spoke to his chosen people through many prophets, judges, kings and valiant women of faith. In “the fullness of time” (Gal 4:4), he sent his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ the Saviour, who took flesh as an Asian! Exulting in the goodness of the continent’s peoples, cultures, and religious vitality, and conscious at the same time of the unique gift of faith which she has received for the good of all, the Church in Asia cannot cease to proclaim: “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever” (Ps 118:1)” (EA, 1). To spread the joy of the Gospel (EG, 1) to this vast land, the Asian apostles testified, “We proclaim the one we have seen, heard and touched” (cf. 1 John 1:1-3). This personal encounter and discipleship is indispensable. Without it none will be able to touch the soul of Asia (FABC Plen. Ass. X, 2012).
Australia is a country of striking landscapes and a rich ancient culture. It is the sixth-largest country in land area and is the only nation to govern an entire continent. Australia is home to one of the world’s oldest living cultures, with Aboriginal communities established nearly 60,000 years before European settlement. Today, Australia is one of the world’s most multicultural countries, rich in indigenous and immigrant cultures. Australia is a successful and prosperous nation, and one of the world’s strongest economies.
In the past, Portuguese and Spanish Roman Catholics along with Dutch and English Protestants were sailing into Australia waters from the seventeenth century. Therefore, this continent-country also bears abundant promises and hopes for Christianity planted there centuries ago.
As Asian Pacific inhabitants, we are invited to take part in the evangelization by being immersed in the Asian and Australian ways of living, which concur harmoniously with our Carmelite way of living. This way is expressed in living a contemplative way of life, engaging inculturation, inter-religious dialogue, and option for the poor. This is the best summarized as a contemplative dialogue with culture, religions and the poor. To realize these ideals, we are challenged to live authentically the identity we constantly profess throughout our Carmelite history by way of building praying and prophetic communities at the service of the Church and the world (cf. Final Message, Gen. Chap. 2013, 4b).
This geographic area known in the Order as Asia, Australia and Oceania (AAO) consists of two huge continents and thousands of islands. Around 30% of the members of the Order live in this vast area. Although the Carmelites in AAO inherit various ancient cultures and speak in very different languages, English is well accepted as a uniting language of the area; therefore, in the regional meetings or gatherings, English is employed.
Some activities done in the first half of this sessenium are: on the routine basis, formators and students gather every other year. The last formators gathering was in November 2014, and the students gathered in April 2015; both gatherings were held in the Philippines. The superiors gathering happened in November 2014 in Vietnam. In March 2015, there was the Third Order Carmelites gathering in Tagaytay, Philippines. Finally, in November 2015, we held an on-going formation course for the 1st to 5th year friars in active ministry in Malang, Indonesia with the theme: Nurturing the Carmelite Vocation in the Year of Religious Life. As the councillor for this area, I have visited almost every community in the area through fraternal visits in 2015: India in January to February, Indonesia-Papua New Guinea-Australia and the Philippines in July to September.
As councillor for formation, in collaboration with the General Formation Commission I have organized the on-going formation course on St. Teresa Avila and St. John of the Cross: “Silent Music, Sounding Solitude: Following in His Footsteps” in Avila & Salamanca, Spain from 7th to 17th September 2014. It has also been decided at the Commission meeting in Rome 2015 that in November 2016, Indonesia will be hosting the International Course for Formators and Vocation Promoters in Batu - Malang, on October 30 to November 13, 2016 with the theme: Walk With Us: “Growing in the Contemplative Dimensions of One’s Life” (RIVC, 10).
In the next four years, I have arranged some plans. The most important is the canonical visits. Those other plans are bursars gathering and the Carmelite Institutes and retreat masters gathering, the dates and venues for these gatherings are to be decided together with the superiors of the area. May God bless the Carmelites in this geographical area and lead us with His wisdom in planning the best for this area and for the whole Order.
