Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) – Phnom Penh Major Seminary, as part of its permanent formation program, organized a seminar May 5-7 on the theme “Culture and Inculturation.” On the occasion, Fr. Bruno Cosme, MEP, Rector of the St. John Marie Vianney Major Seminary in Phnom Penh, invited Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati (northeastern India) to lead the reflections for the nearly 50 participants, including priests, religious, and laity from Cambodia's three ecclesial circumscriptions. Archbishop Menamparampil was chosen by the Holy Father to prepare the meditations for the Via Crucis at the Coloseum this past Good Friday.
The theme of Culture and Inculturation is becoming a more common focus in reflections throughout the world today. For several decades, the main themes of the international debates mainly focused on questions such as political independence or economic balances. Likewise, the theme of the faith in science or in technology occupies a large number of conferences, regardless of cultural differences which are often considered as secondary.
However, it seems that something is changing. Today, people are more attentive to cultural, ethnic, religious, and moral diversity, with all their social consequences. Some long-considered certainties seem to lose their strength in confronting the profound changes of recent years. Culture, in a certain sense, is at the heart of the aspirations and yearnings of the people. Defense of culture has become a central concern.
Christians can no longer remain indifferent in light of this new prospect on the horizon. Preaching the Gospel is deeply linked to a context, a culture, a language, which should be object of reflection. In the three-day Seminar, Archbishop Menamparampil, who offers his personal experience of being part of an ethnic minority in his Archdiocese in a multi-cultural and multi-religious context, encouraged the participants to discuss amongst themselves (which they eagerly did), sharing their experiences in the Catholic communities of Cambodia, a country in which 95% of the population is Buddhist.
The situation of the Catholic Church in Cambodia should be taken into account. For example, in the regime of the Khmer Rouge, from 1975-1979 all the Bishops and priests were assassinated. With the opening of the country to missionaries in 1990, the Church has been able to come back to life with patience and great courage. Thus, it is important to reflect on the way in which the Word of God can be announced to the people of Cambodia in an understandable manner.
Archbishop Menamparampil mentioned the importance of respecting local culture, in addition to the language, maintaining harmonious human relationships, adapting to the needs of those around us, the detailed study of the signs of the times, and the priority service towards Christian communities, which all enable us to appreciate the beauty of the mission we have received from the Lord.
“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15). For three days, the Seminar on “Culture and Inculturation” was an invitation to participants not to lose sight of the importance of culture and how Christians should preach the Gospel in their own country, letting the hope that is in them shine out.” (PB) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2009)
