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As the Clergy Annual Pastoral Assembly 2026 (CAPA) comes to a close, we give thanks to God the One who calls, equips, and sends us to serve His people. These days have been a beautiful testament to the Holy Spirit at work in our Church as the clergy came together to learn, pray, fellowship, and share moments of joy. Though CAPA concludes, the mission continues. May the seeds planted here grow in faith, love, and service as they return to our communities. One Church. One Mission. One Body in Christ.
The Jubilee Year of Hope, proclaimed by Pope Francis, was far more than a commemorative season. It was a heartfelt call to awaken hope in a world wounded by conflict, division, and fear. At its center stood a simple yet powerful truth: our hope is alive and unshakable because it is rooted in Jesus Christ, whose love never fails and whose mercy continually renews the human heart. Throughout the Jubilee, families, young people, the elderly, and those on the margins were welcomed and celebrated. These gatherings were not merely events on a calendar; they were encounters, moments where faith was rekindled, burdens were lifted, and people rediscovered that they truly belong to God and to one another. Many experienced forgiveness, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose, realizing that no life is forgotten and no struggle is invisible to God. As the Jubilee Year of Hope comes to its close, its mission does not end, it begins anew. This is the moment to carry its spirit into our homes, workplaces, parishes, and communities. Hope must become a daily choice: choosing compassion over indifference, unity over division, courage over fear. It invites us to be creative in love, bold in faith, and steadfast even in trials. Let this Jubilee continue to echo in our lives. Let it move us to reach out to the lonely, to stand with the suffering, to speak words that heal, and to live in a way that reminds the world that despair never has the final word. We are all called to be a bearer of hope.
Pastoral Statement for Ash Wednesday and Chinese New Year 2026
Homily at the Pilgrimage of Hope 2025, Minor Basilica of St. Anne, Penang Penang, Malaysia - The Minor Basilica of St. Anne became the heart of Asia's faithful as 800 delegates representing 30 countries gathered for the Pilgrimage of Hope 2025, a celebration of shared mission and future. The Holy Mass celebrated by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, whose message of hope and vigilance inspired pilgrims to continue their journey with Christ toward the fulfillment of God's promise. Cardinal Tagle began by expressing joy at seeing “faces of people who journey with us in Asia,” noting that the pilgrimage was not only for Asia but for the whole world. He reminded the assembly that the Church is setting its sights on the year 2033, the 2000th anniversary of the Paschal Mystery, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, which marked the beginning of Christian mission. A Community of Pilgrims in Confusion Reflecting on the first reading from the Book of Daniel, Cardinal Tagle highlighted the prophet’s role as a trusted interpreter of mysteries for the king. “It is okay to be disturbed, to be alarmed,” he said. “We are on a common journey, forming a community of confused, unknowing people. But if the vision comes from God, let Him shed light. Beware when humans pretend to interpret mysteries that belong to God.” Christ Who Burns Our Hearts The Cardinal drew attention to the Gospel, recalling how Jesus makes ‘our hearts burn within us’ by opening the Scriptures and breaking bread, actions that reveal His very life. “The Lord spurs us on to mission. He is our future. He is the one pulling our journey to Himself. He is with us, but He is also waiting for us,” Cardinal Tagle proclaimed. He emphasized that the end of the journey gives meaning to the story: “A life that does not end is not complete. The kingdom awaits those who journey even in confusion. Do we believe in the future that is assured?” Warnings Against Losing Sight of Christ Cardinal Tagle cautioned against distractions that dull the heart and obscure the vision of Christ. He named drunkenness, anxiety, material obsession, consumerism, and vanity as forces that drain energy and lead believers away from the Lord. “We forget about the Lord who is waiting for us when we are busy being anxious,” he warned, urging the faithful instead to pray at all times, remain in communion, and be present to family, the poor, the hungry, the imprisoned, the homeless, and the stranger. “Jesus is in them,” he continued. “He is the one who will welcome us into the Father’s kingdom.” At this point, he added with emphasis: “Jesus urges us to be watchful and prayerful. He is the co-journeyer and also our destination.” Journeying Towards 2033 Looking ahead to the milestone year 2033, Cardinal Tagle assured the faithful that Christ is already preparing to welcome them. “Our companion Jesus is pulling us to Himself. If only we are alert and pray, then we will journey with Him. He is the host of the beautiful house, ready to open the door.” He concluded with a powerful invitation: “If someone asks where you are going, say: I am going to God the Father. And if they look shocked, ask them: Do you want to come with me? For Jesus is our co-journeyer and also our destination.”
Synodality and Mission: Impact Session with Father Clarence Devadass Taking the Church Forward in a Synodal Way The Great Pilgrimage of Hope 2025 featured an Impact Session with Father Clarence Devadass, who spoke candidly about synodality and its place in the life and mission of the Church. He reminded participants that this was a time of listening, sharing, and discerning together. The aim was to leave with conviction: each participant must ask, “What can I do when I get back?” Synodality, he stressed, is about becoming agents of change in our homes, parishes, dioceses, and communities. Father Clarence explained that synodality is not a “band-aid” solution to all the Church’s problems. It is not a project, a management programme, or a strategic plan. Rather, it is a spirituality, a way of being Church. “Since 2021, the word “synodality” has been added to many events and documents, but often without real change in practice. True synodality requires conversion: of mindsets, of relationships, of processes, and of structures. It is not about adding more burdens to priests or parish leaders, but about infusing the spirit of synodality into what is already being done, whether in Eucharist, parish meetings, or assemblies.” He highlighted three pillars of synodality: communion, participation, and mission. “Communion calls the faithful to unity and to journey together without leaving anyone behind. Participation invites every baptised person to recognise and share their gifts, overcoming exclusion and embracing diversity. Mission reminds the Church that it exists to evangelise, bringing God’s love especially to those at the peripheries. Synodality, therefore, is not an end in itself but a pathway to transformation and conversion.” Listening and discernment are central to synodality. Father Clarence emphasised the importance of listening to one another and to the Holy Spirit, suspending judgement and resisting the urge to provide instant solutions. “Synodality is not parliamentary democracy or majority rule; sometimes the Spirit speaks through the minority voice.” He added that what matters is the process of decision-making, marked by genuine consultation and openness, not token gestures. “Consultation must be sincere, not for show, and must engage the faithful meaningfully in the life of the Church.” He acknowledged the cultural barriers that make synodality challenging in Asia. “Linguistic diversity complicates even the translation of the word “synodality.” Deep respect for hierarchy can limit accessibility to Church leaders, while patriarchal structures continue to diminish the role of women. Silence and avoidance are also common, with faithful preferring to wait out a parish priest’s tenure rather than engage in dialogue.” He added that these realities must be confronted if synodality is to take root in the region. He noted that servant leadership requires humility and accessibility, not distance or privilege. Synodality, Father Clarence reminded participants, is not time-bound to 2028 nor dependent solely on Pope Francis. “It is a renewal of the Church’s identity as the People of God. Through baptism, we all share in the threefold ministry of priest, prophet, and king, making every member a stakeholder in the Church’s mission.” He added that synodality strengthens the Church’s witness, builds unity in diversity, and responds to contemporary challenges such as declining attendance, questions of relevance, and the credibility of the Church in the face of scandal. “It is not about changing doctrine, but about expressing the Church’s identity as the People of God, discerning together what the Spirit is saying.” Father Clarence also spoke of the need to expand the tent, echoing Pope Francis’ call, highlighting that the challenge is not only to welcome more people, but to open the hearts of those already inside. “Too often, insiders resist welcoming those who are different, waiting until they are “perfect” before allowing them in. Synodality calls for universal participation, recognising diverse gifts and talents, and moving the faithful from passive recipients to active agents of faith. It is about dialogue, communication, and engagement, both within the Church and with people of other religions and those at the margins.” He added that synodality is about moving forward in hope, transforming passive recipients into active agents of faith. “It expands the tent, not only to welcome more people but to open the hearts of those already inside.” He stressed that synodality is about mission, communion, and participation to become a Church that listens, discerns, and walks together. He reminded participants to carry this spirituality home, embodying synodality in daily life and becoming agents of change in their communities. The impact session concluded in a beautiful synodal action of the participants of the impact session saying the Lord’s prayer in their own languages representing the 30 countries present.