FABC Office of Laity and Family Calls for Stronger Faith Formation, Wider Synodal Participation

As the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) opens its Plenary Assembly in Jakarta on July 20, the chairman of the FABC Office of Laity and Family says strengthening families, deepening faith formation, and expanding the participation of laypeople, women, and youth remain among the Church’s most urgent priorities in Asia.

In an interview with Radio Veritas Asia ahead of the assembly, Bishop Emmanuel Rozario Barishal in southern Bangladesh, chairman of the FABC Office of Laity and Family, said the Church must respond to the rapid social changes affecting families and Catholic communities across the continent.

“The core mission of the Office of Laity and Family is to strengthen families, the domestic churches, and to promote the vocation, mission, and participation of the laity, youth, and women for the mission of the Church in Asia,” Bishop Rozario said.

The FABC Office of Laity and Family is one of the federation’s largest pastoral offices. It includes specialized desks for youth, women, and the Asian Integral Pastoral Approach (AsIPA), which is closely linked with Basic Ecclesial Communities. The office is led by a bishop chairman, three bishop members, and an executive secretary.

Bishop Rozario said the office works closely with bishops, clergy, religious, and lay pastoral leaders responsible for family, youth, women, and lay ministries in bishops’ conferences throughout Asia. Most coordination is carried out through online meetings and regional networking, complemented by in-person programs and formation gatherings.

He said the office focuses primarily on formation, helping lay Catholics recognize their vocation as missionary disciples and active participants in the Church.

He added that particular emphasis is placed on strengthening families through faith formation, preparing young people for leadership and missionary discipleship, and fostering greater collaboration among Church communities across Asia.

Responding to contemporary challenges

According to Bishop Rozario, families across Asia face numerous pressures that affect both family life and the transmission of faith.

He identified marital instability, divorce, domestic violence, economic hardship, unemployment, labor migration, prolonged family separation, declining family prayer, secularism, consumerism, and digital addiction as some of the most pressing concerns.

“These realities weaken family relationships, challenge the transmission of faith to younger generations, and degrade human dignity,” Bishop Rozario said.

In response, the office has prioritized faith formation programs that help individuals deepen their relationship with God while strengthening their understanding of marriage, family life, and Christian responsibility.

The goal, he said, is to form lay Catholics who can become credible witnesses to the Gospel within their families, parishes, and society.

Building a synodal Church

Reflecting on Pope Francis’ vision of synodality, Bishop Rozario said the Church must ensure that all the baptized, especially women and young people, actively participate in its mission.

“We try to make them aware of the gifts, talents, and charisms they have received from God, and to motivate and encourage them to use these charisms generously for the good and formation of the Church,” Bishop Rozario said.

Looking beyond the assembly

With the FABC Plenary Assembly beginning later today, Bishop Rozario said its discussions and decisions will help shape the future direction of the Office of Laity and Family.

“We are convinced to be bridges and bridge-builders among laity, families, youths, and women,” Bishop Rozario said.

He also pointed to next year’s World Youth Day as another important opportunity for evangelization and formation. Drawing on the outcomes of both events, the office plans to strengthen formation programs for families, laypeople, youth, women, and AsIPA communities across Asia.

As Asia’s bishops gather in Jakarta under the theme of synodal conversion and bridge-building, Bishop Rozario said strengthening faith formation and encouraging the active participation of all the baptized will remain central to the Church’s mission in the years ahead.