Fifty-nine clergy of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur gathered for their annual Clergy Pastoral Assembly (CAPA), at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre from January 13 to 15.
By Fr Michael Chua
Fifty-nine clergy of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur gathered for their annual Clergy Pastoral Assembly (CAPA), at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre from January 13 to 15.
The clergy took time away from their hectic pastoral responsibilities in the parishes for this annual event which provides an opportunity for them to listen, reflect and discuss selected themes affecting priestly and pastoral ministry in the local Church, to review current practices and explore new directions. The programme included inputs from various speakers, reactions from respondents, and spiritual conversations in break-out groups which have become a staple of the synodal way of being Church. This was augmented by the spiritual exercises of daily Masses, Eucharistic adoration, confessions and communal praying of the Divine Office.
The themes selected for this year’s CAPA included reflecting on the current vocation crisis to the priesthood and consecrated life, administering sacraments within and beyond parish boundaries, and establishing a Marriage Catechumenate, which the Holy Father proposed.
Vocation Crisis
CAPA began with a fitting reflection on the issue of the vocation crisis by Fr Simon Labrooy, followed by responses from five other priests. Fr Simon began the conversation with a reflection on Luke 1:39-45 ? the story of the Visitation ? followed by two personal stories. Instead of focusing the discussion on the usual causes for the decline in religious vocations (ageing priests, cultural shifts, social and economic challenges), Fr Simon challenged the clergy to do an introspective examination of conscience, on the type of priestly ministry which they were observing and whether this had an impact on the crisis.
Pastoral Jurisdiction
On the second day, Fr Dr Clarence Devadass, who had been a key participant in the recently concluded Synod on Synodality, dealt with the issue of how pastoral duties, though naturally structured according to respective parish boundaries, should not be confined to these limits. Fr Clarence then invited Fr William Michael, a canonist and the current Judicial Vicar of the Peninsular Malaysia Ecclesiastical Tribunal, to give a short overview of the canonical position of pastoral jurisdiction based on one’s domicile. Fr Clarence enjoined the conversation by introducing certain observations from the Synod. In the final document which had been approved by the Holy Father, it was acknowledged that the concept of “‘place’ can no longer be conceived in purely geographical and spatial terms but evokes, in our time, one’s belonging to a network of relationships and to a culture whose territorial roots are more dynamic and flexible than ever before.”
Traditional territorial bonds, therefore, are being redefined, blurring the lines that divide dioceses and parishes. The Synod proposed that “missionary creativity” is needed to explore new forms of pastoral action. He raised several scenarios concerning the administration of sacraments which may have arisen from the issue of canonical requirements based on the domicile of a person.
Although such requirements have an intended purpose to facilitate due diligence in the preparation of persons for sacraments, in practical application, some of these policies have resulted in unnecessary red tape and inconvenience to the faithful, pushing them from one parish to another. In their respective break-out groups based on districts, the clergy shared best practices, and challenges and listened to each other offer pastoral solutions to common issues.
Archbishop Julian Leow followed up the discussion by challenging the clergy to offer pastoral assistance wherever it is needed and to collaborate in their pastoral outreach. Background checks and communication between clergy, however, should not be casually compromised whilst the clergy must find ways of being more creatively pastoral in their approach. He proposed to follow up with this discussion at the level of the Council of Priests who will be tasked with drawing up guidelines to streamline best practices.
Marriage Catehumenate
In the third session, Fr William Michael provided the clergy with a historical overview of the theological development, canonical history and magisterial teaching on the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, leading up to the current proposal of establishing a marriage catechumenate. Although this was recently raised by the Holy Father as a response to the growing crisis in marriages and families, the proposal of a more thorough and wholistic process of preparation had already been raised during the pontificate of St John Paul II.
The current proposal for a marriage catechumenate is similar in concept to that of the RCIA, which is intended to be done over a period of six months to a year before the wedding. This is a call to rethink marriage preparation as a continuous accompaniment, before and after the wedding. The process envisages three stages ? remote (from childhood, sowing the seeds of a future vocation to married life); intermediate (when the couple approaches the church seeking the sacrament of marriage, this is an opportunity to get to know the couple and help strengthen their faith and proclaim the kerygma): and the final stage, which is meant to include the elements of Catechesis, evangelisation, and proclamation in the proximate preparation of the couple before their intended wedding.
Conclusion
On the third and last day of the CAPA, Msgr Stanislaus Soosaimariam facilitated an open discussion during which many priests shared their personal experiences and challenges in priestly ministry.
The assembly concluded with Mass presided over by Archbishop Julian Leow. In his homily, the archbishop preached on the Gospel passage that set out a hectic day in the public ministry of Jesus, undeterred by the demands of His flock and never losing sight of the direction His Heavenly Father gave as He set aside time for prayer. His Grace spoke of the priest, following the example of Christ, as a man of prayer and a representative of Christ in making themselves available. Building on the 4 L’s which he introduced in his inaugural speech during his episcopal ordination, the archbishop added that a priest should also be marked by an additional 4 L’s of priestly ministry ? we should imitate Jesus as the Logos, Light, the Life and Love. He prayed and hoped that the clergy will become role models to others and continue to inspire more vocations when they imitate Christ in prayer, presence and outlook.
This reflection was a most appropriate conclusion to the three-day proceedings, during which the clergy discussed and reflected on ways of balancing prudential practices based on canon law and Church policies with missionary creativity, reigniting zeal in their priestly ministry, navigating mental and physical fatigue, increasing workload, declining vocations, and growing parishes with growing needs.
Feedback from clergy
At the end of CAPA, many clergy agreed that this year’s CAPA provided many significant and relevant takeaways.
Msgr Daniel Lim, an octogenarian priest who had participated in many similar CAPAs’ in previous years, gave this year’s programme “a big tick mark”. “We seem to be focusing on very relevant topics over the years”, he noted, “including years spent on topics like self-help and the mental wellbeing of the priest and this year’s topics are most relevant to current challenges in pastoral ministry.”
Heading the organising team, Msgr Stanislaus found this year’s CAPA as another step for the clergy in “progressing towards having a common vision and sharing in the common mission of the Church.”
Fr Nicholas Hoh OCD had this take-away: “The importance of collaboration among our priests to ensure that the Gospel remains a light for our people.”
Fr Terrance Thomas shared, “I remind myself of the importance of fraternal communication with clergy, which can be of profit in any situation.
First time participant and soon to be ordained as priest, Deacon Jonathan Rao shared that he found this “experience to be exceptionally insightful and enriching” and “relevant to the evolving needs of our particular Church”. Deacon Jonathan added that “this forward-thinking approach is essential to maintaining the Church’s vitality and relevance in the years to come.”
