PCC supports Catholic synod

Message to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suva Synod From the Pacific

Conference of Churches

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Warm greetings from the Pacific Conference of Churches, a fellowship and network of 30 churches and 15 national councils of churches across 15 Pacific Island countries.

As you meet over these three days in the culmination of this year-long process of discernment, concluding on Pentecost, the theme of your Synod, “Connecting in Jesus, Connecting with Neighbour,” is truly significant as we seek as members of the Body of Christ, in Fiji, and the Pacific to discern afresh how to be the Church in the World today.

Your sisters and brothers from the member churches of PCC, join with you in prayer that we may all be the heart, mind, eyes, ears, hands and feet of Jesus to all creation – that we may understand and discern God’s will, see all creation as God’ sees it, hear God’s voice clearly, not only sing our praises to God but also speak God’s truth to power in love, and serve God and God’s creation however and wherever the Holy Spirit calls us to do so.

As part of the Body of Christ, called to love neighbour, the Archdiocese has been a longstanding part of the ecumenical family in Fiji and the Pacific, playing an important part in the formation of the Pacific Conference of Churches in 1961 and, post-Vatican II, becoming the first Catholic community to enter formally into the ecumenical movement by being a founding member of the Fiji Council of Churches.

We continue to celebrate this legacy today with the Conference of Bishops in the Pacific as a member of the Pacific Conference of Churches, and His Grace, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong, a member of the PCC Executive Committee.

We are following with interest the issues being discussed at the Synod: Church as Sacramental Life, Family Life, Youth, Church and Society, Education, Ecology and Church Leadership and Governance – and look forward to joining in this process of discernment as Observers to the Synod. The work of this Synod is not only important for the Archdiocese of Suva, but will also contribute to the culture of Just Peace in the Pacific that the Pacific Conference of Churches works towards through its programmes on Political, Social and Economic Self-Determination, Stewardship of Creation and Climate Justice, Women and Gender Issues, Youth and Children and Ecumenism. The resolutions of your Synod will be shared across the Pacific as a gift of the Archdiocese to sister communities of faith in Oceania.

May God’s blessings be with you in your pilgrimage and may the Holy Spirit set your hearts aflame as you connect in Jesus and connect with Neighbour.

With deep love and prayers, (I remain, your brother in Christ)

James Bhagwan (Rev.)
General Secretary