Some of the participants of the virtual briefing on the Pan Malaysia Pastoral Convention 2026. (PMPC 2026).
By Agnes Chai (Source: Sr Thecla Densia FSP)
Aug 29 2021
KOTA KINABALU – The Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu kick-started its roadmapping process to align to the Pan Malaysia Pastoral Convention goals with an online briefing Aug 7. The briefing was attended by 171 participants, which included the KK prelate, Archbishop John Wong.
The Pan Malaysia Pastoral Convention scheduled in 2026, or PMPC 2026, is a synodal process for the local Church, encouraged by the Regional Bishops, to see a greater commitment from the laity, religious and clergy coming together to celebrate, listen and walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:2-5).
The PMPC plans tie in well with the synodality desired by Pope Francis, who urged a “greater involvement of the whole Church” in the upcoming Synod of Bishops scheduled for autumn 2023.
The PMPC envisions a Malaysian Church, which encompasses the regions of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsula, coming together to celebrate the many differences, beauty and uniqueness found in the diverse culture of the people.
It also exhorts a Church that knows how to listen and share the uniqueness of the respective pastoral progress and initiatives in the various dioceses of the three regions for the purpose of learning from each other.
In order to walk towards fulfilling our mission as Malaysians being “the salt of the earth and light of the world”, the Church needs to be reminded to live out the four aspects of her mission: the church as the voice of the people, the church communicating the fullness of life, the church reaching out in mercy, and the church growing in holiness.
Four priorities of pastoral concerns have been identified to guide the PMPC process: the church, family, social and ecological issues, using four of the Pope’s documents as points of reference. For issues concerning the Church, Evangelii Gaudium will be referred to, while issues on family, Amoris Laetitia will serve as the point of reference. Fratelli Tutti can be referred to solve social issues while Laudato Si will be a sound base to be used for ecological issues.
For the process, the journey is to be marked by four stages: 1) Parish Pastoral Assembly, 2) Diocese Pastoral Assembly, 3) Regional Pastoral Assembly, and 4) Compilation and Submission of Reports, and PMPC celebration.
A timeline has been provided by the central working committee to the nine dioceses across Malaysia, but individual diocese is left to adapt their own timeline to suit their respective places.
Meanwhile, KK Archdiocese has proposed a timeline beginning with the PMPC Briefing on Aug 7. In 2022, the Religious Assembly will be held, followed by the Parish Pastoral Assembly which will stretch over two years from 2022-2023. In 2024, the Archdiocese Pastoral Assembly will take place, followed by the Malaysian Youth Assembly and the Regional Pastoral Assembly for Sabah in 2025, before culminating at Majodi Centre, Johor Bahru for the PMPC in 2026.
As a practical guide for the Archdiocese, the following steps to launch the Archdiocesan PMPC journey have been proposed:
31 Aug 2021 Formation of the Archdiocesan PMPC Committee
30 Sep 2021 Guidelines prepared by Archdiocesan PMPC Committee
to be given to parishes on 1) Role and Function of Parish
PMPC Committee, and 2) Guidelines for Parish Pastoral
Assembly (PPA)
30 Oct 2021 Formation of all Parish PMPC Committees
04 Nov 2021 Launching of Archdiocesan PMPC journey
After the launching, each parish in the Archdiocese would embark on the two years of Parish Pastoral Assembly (2022-2023). The two-year time frame allotted to implement the PPA is necessary, taking into consideration some parishes have more outstations.
Archbishop concluded by sharing his conviction that the process of journeying towards the PMPC 2026 is “truly a God-given opportunity and blessing” for the local church to examine and assess our faith journey as individual, as family, as parish, as archdiocese, as Malaysians, and the larger perspective as universal church. He defined it as “a moment of renewal and growth in the Malaysian Church”.
Anticipating that the process of journeying towards PMPC 2026 would entail a lot of work ahead for everyone, he sought to soothe the fears of the participants “Do not be afraid to accept responsibility and commitment in serving the Church. Instead, look at it as an opportunity to seek God’s blessing and grace to put all our God-given talents in His service.”
