Bandung (Agenzia Fides) - Need to renew pastoral strategies, such as the formation of young people, family pastoral care, dialogue with other believers, the presence of basic ecclesial communities, the role of Pastors and members of religious orders: the Synod in the Diocese of Bandung, a city in the west of the Indonesian island of Java has just ended and was a breath of "fresh air" in view of the Jubilee of mercy. As reported to Fides by the local Church, the Synod was an experience of "pastoral conversion" to better present the merciful face of God in society.
Celebrated under the guide of Bishop Antonio Subianto Bunyamin, 25 years after the last diocesan synod in 1990, the Synod was centered on the theme "One heart, one mind, in the sharing of joy" and started with a first meeting last May, with the subsequent preparation of the "Lineamenta" and then a synodal "Instrumentum laboris".
As Fides learns, during the synod, pastoral issues were addressed, and other themes were discussed such as preaching and catechesis, social work, pastoral education and health, lay involvement, liturgical service, the presence of believers in culture and in the public sphere, new awareness of the environment.
The 184 delegates from all the realities of the local Church were called to give their contribution and to approve the final document: "The Bishop said that the delegates of the Synod should become 'final living document ', continuing to proclaim and witness what they experienced during the Synod", said one participant. After the closing Mass the Bishop announced a special "Synod of young Catholic people" in 2016 and the diocesan Year of the Family in 2018. (PCP-PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/11/2015)