By Anna Leong and Sr Erica Lobo
KUALA LUMPUR — Sixty-seven religious formators — including 53 sisters, 13 priests, and one brother — from nine Asian countries, recently gathered at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre in Kuala Lumpur for an intensive formation workshop centred on the FABC50 Bangkok Document, Journeying Together as Peoples of Asia… and they went a different way. (Mt 2:12)
The gathering sought to foster a deeper understanding of the document and explore practical ways to embody its five pastoral pathways. These pathways serve as a spiritual and pastoral roadmap for the Church in Asia as it navigates contemporary challenges while walking in solidarity with diverse communities.
The formators represented a diverse cross-section of the Church in Asia, coming from Bangladesh, China (Hong Kong and Macau), India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.
The workshop opened with an evening Eucharistic celebration at the Church of St Anthony, presided over by Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, Chairman of FABC Office of Human Development. This was followed by dinner, during which participants introduced themselves, shared their motivations for attending, and expressed their hopes for mutual learning and collaboration.
From FABC origins to future horizons
At the official opening, Bishop Allwyn D’Silva offered a warm welcome and traced the historical development of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). He highlighted the FABC’s birth in 1970, its evolving mission of deeper engagement with Asian realities, and the culmination of these efforts in the FABC50 General Conference held in Bangkok in 2022, leading to the publication of the landmark Bangkok Document in 2023.
He noted that the document has already inspired grassroots initiatives in various countries. Workshops in Nepal, for instance, brought together bishops, catechists, and local leaders to internalise the document’s message. Building on this momentum, it was aimed that the Jubilee Year 2025 would feature targeted workshops for seminary rectors, formators, religious sisters, youth leaders, and those involved in migrant ministries — ensuring the Document’s message reaches the very heart of local communities.
Looking to the future, Bishop D’Silva stressed that the ultimate aim of these workshops is to form a Church that witnesses Christ’s love through active solidarity with the poor, the migrants, the marginalised, and all peoples of Asia. He reminded participants that Jesus himself modelled a synodal approach — one that is open, participatory, and inclusive.
“Like a seed or leaven,” he said, “these efforts may appear small, but with God’s grace, they have the potential to grow into transformative pathways of love, peace, and justice for the Church in Asia.”
Entrusting the workshop and its participants to Mary’s intercession, the prelate called on all formators to walk together with passion, generosity, and faith in their shared mission.
Forming ‘wounded healers’
On the second day of the workshop, Archbishop Julian Leow warmly welcomed participants by presiding over the Holy Eucharist on the feast of The Beheading of St John the Baptist.
In his homily, Archbishop Julian reflected on the uncertainties of the modern world, noting that formation must go beyond addressing current needs. “We are not only preparing candidates for today,” he said, “but for realities yet unseen.” Citing insights from Bishop Socrates Villegas on the priesthood, he reminded participants that authentic ministry is not built on human strength, but on weakness, docility, and openness to God’s healing. Formators, he said, are called to shape “wounded healers” — those who minister out of their own dependence on God’s grace.
The archbishop also warned against relying solely on human standards of judgment in the formation process. Drawing from Scripture, he noted that even Peter and Judas, both chosen by Jesus, defied expectations — one ultimately becoming the rock of the Church, the other a tragic figure. “Marks and grades may not tell the full story,” he said. “Discernment and openness to the Spirit are essential in recognising a candidate’s true potential.”
Archbishop Julian urged formators to approach their mission with patience and humility, reminding them that growth often takes time. “We must allow candidates to be ‘half-baked’ at first,” he said, “trusting that the furnace of experience and faith will shape them over time into disciples formed in the heart of Christ.”
He concluded by affirming the essential role of seminaries and convents as places of on-going transformation — spaces where future religious can be nurtured in Gospel values, shaped by love, and sent forth to serve God’s people with compassion and integrity.
Synodal formation – a lifelong journey of formation
Sr Rekha Chennattu, RA, Superior General of the Religious of the Assumption and a respected biblical scholar, delivered the keynote address titled: Towards a Synodal Formation Journey for Synodal Religious Communities: Religious Formation in Light of the Jubilee Year, the Synod on Synodality, and the FABC50 Document.
Expressing her joy and gratitude at being invited to speak during the Jubilee Year, Sr Rekha thanked Bishop D’Silva and the FABC Central Secretariat for the opportunity. She shared how the vibrant engagement of religious congregations across Asia had rekindled a renewed passion and commitment within her own vocation.
In her address, Sr Rekha emphasised that synodal formation is not simply a preparatory phase for future ministry, but a lifelong journey of personal and communal conversion. This journey, she said, must be grounded in deep listening — to the Holy Spirit, to Sacred Scripture, to the Church, to the charism of each congregation, and to the cries of a wounded world.
She proposed three essential attitudes for synodal formation:
• Walking together with respect for the pace and journey of each person;
• Engaging in communal discernment rooted in prayer;
• Fostering covenantal relationships that embody God’s unconditional love and faithfulness.
Formation, she stressed, must move individuals from self-centredness to other-centredness, cultivating a spirit of love, service, and contemplative openness to God’s providence.
Drawing from both the FABC50 Document and biblical themes — particularly John 15 — Sr Rekha described synodal religious communities as God’s covenant families: spaces of mutual care, shared responsibility, and spiritual resilience. It is in these communities, she said, that religious can be continually formed to become credible witnesses and effective partners in God’s mission.
“True formation,” she concluded, “requires embracing our vulnerability and dependence on grace. Only then can we be the wounded healers the world so urgently needs.”
Understanding the FABC
Fr William LaRousse, Assistant Secretary General of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), provided participants with a concise yet informative overview of the organisation. He outlined the history, nature, and structure of the FABC, highlighting its functions, leadership, regional divisions, central secretariat, commissions, offices, desks, and publications. He encouraged participants to explore further resources available on the official website: www.fabc.org
How do lay people and priests view the formation of religious?
This critical question was addressed in two complementary perspectives:
Fr Joseph Gonsalves emphasised that the true goal of religious formation is not merely preparing individuals for congregational roles, but shaping them into missionary disciples.
Drawing on the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis (2016) and Pope Francis’ image of candidates as “uncut diamonds,” he stressed the importance of integrating human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions in formation.
He candidly identified several concerns observed by laypeople and clergy:
• Superficial spirituality and lack of personal accompaniment.
• Overemphasis on menial tasks in early formation.
• Negative witness in educational institutions.
• Injustice in salaries and treatment of staff.
• Weak inculturation and detachment from social realities.
• Poor mental health support.
• Imposition of English in formation houses, marginalising local languages.
• Misuse of digital media.
• Unresolved personal wounds and trauma.
• Insufficient pastoral attention to sexuality and LGBTQ+ issues.
He concluded by affirming that authentic formation must foster emotional and spiritual maturity; cultural rootedness and resilience and justice, and above all, joyful discipleship, so that religious may become credible and compassionate witnesses to the Gospel in today’s world.
Offering a laywoman’s perspective, Anna Terese Peter Amandus shared a deeply personal and uplifting testimony. Having grown up surrounded by priests and sisters — including relatives in religious life — she described them as angels, educators, motivators, friends, and above all, reflections of Christ who selflessly give their lives for others.
While acknowledging real challenges such as pride, clericalism, burnout, difficulties with vows, and the struggles of community living, she expressed unwavering hope. Citing 2 Corinthians 5:14, she urged religious to remain rooted in Christ, faithful to their call, and open to unlearning and relearning in today’s changing world.
Her vision for religious life is one of continued transformation: as bridge-builders, seed-planters, and beacons of Christ’s love, who illuminate the path for others through their witness.
Session 1: Developing a common understanding of the FABC50 document
The first session of the workshop focused on fostering a shared and deeper understanding of the FABC50 Bangkok Document. The session was facilitated by Leslie D’Souza, Anna Leong, and Joanne Chua, who began by briefly sharing their personal faith journeys. They spoke of how the Holy Spirit had brought them together in their common pursuit of meaningful change, particularly through their engagement with Theory U, developed by Dr Otto Scharmer, Senior Lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Learning Process
Leslie introduced the session’s methodology, explaining that the exercise was designed to encourage participants to move beyond surface-level reading of the document and engage with it more thoughtfully and collaboratively. Prior to the workshop, participants were asked to read the FABC50 Document in full.
The learning model used was the Team Effectiveness Design, developed by Dr Robert Blake and Jane Mouton of Austin, Texas. The structure of the exercise included the following steps:
• True or False Test – Formators were given a carefully crafted quiz based on the contents of the FABC50 Document.
• Team Discussion – Participants worked in table groups to discuss each statement and reach a consensus on the correct answer.
• Scoring – Both individual and team answers were scored, with most groups showing strong alignment and positive engagement.
The answer key was accompanied by detailed rationales to support deeper understanding and to clarify any misconceptions.
Reflection and Journaling
After the team activity, participants were invited to reflect and journal on the group dynamics and their own personal engagement with the process. The following questions were posed for reflection:
• How were the decisions made?
• How did you listen to one another?
• Did one or two individuals dominate the discussion?
• Were some team members silent?
• Were decisions made just to move forward?
• What would you do differently to deepen understanding of the document?
Participant Feedback
Participants shared that the interactive, team-based approach greatly enhanced their understanding of the FABC50 Document. The combination of individual reflection, team dialogue, and guided rationale provided a rich learning environment that fostered critical thinking, collaboration, and personal insight.
The session set a strong foundation for the days ahead, encouraging formators to listen deeply, engage respectfully, and grow collectively in their journey with the FABC50 vision.
Session 2: Introduction to the U Process
The second session introduced participants to the U Process, a framework for deep systemic change developed by Dr Otto Scharmer. The session opened by naming the three major divides currently fragmenting the world:
Ecological Divide: Marked by unprecedented environmental destruction and unsustainable consumption. Today, the global economy consumes resources at a rate equivalent to 1.5 planets, far beyond the Earth’s capacity.
Social Divide: Characterised by extreme inequality and social fragmentation. For example, eight individuals now possess as much wealth as half of the world’s population combined.
Spiritual Divide: Reflected in the global mental health crisis. More than 800,000 people die by suicide each year — approximately one every 40 seconds — revealing a deep disconnection from meaning, purpose, and hope.
These divides were positioned as symptoms of a deeper disconnect between self, others, nature, and the divine.
Drawing from Dr Scharmer’s recent book Presencing, the session explored the current global paradox: while 68 per cent of people feel a loss of collective agency, 69 per cent say they are willing to sacrifice personal income to address climate change. This signals both a bifurcation point and a source of hope.
Participants reflected on the insight of Ilya Prigogine: “When a system is far from equilibrium, small islands of coherence in a sea of chaos have the capacity to elevate the entire system to a higher order.”
This quote took on special meaning in the context of religious life: each congregation, with its unique charism, is a small island of coherence. By coming together as one community in Christ, religious formators have the power to help transform the wider Church and society.
Four Levels of Listening
The facilitators then introduced the four levels of listening, a key element of the U Process that fosters transformation by opening the mind, heart, and will. The first level, Downloading, involves listening from ingrained habits and assumptions, where one hears only what confirms existing beliefs. The second, Factual Listening, invites the listener to approach with an open mind, being receptive to new information and perspectives. The third level, Empathic Listening, calls for an open heart, allowing the listener to step into the speaker’s experience with genuine understanding. The fourth and deepest level, Generative Listening, requires an open will — a readiness to be changed by what is heard and to respond from one’s highest future potential.
Alongside these levels, the facilitators identified three internal voices that often hinder transformation: The Voice of Judgment, which closes the mind; the Voice of Cynicism, which hardens the heart; and the Voice of Fear, which paralyses the will.
To counter these resistances, they proposed three essential antidotes: curiosity, compassion, and courage — inner dispositions necessary for authentic listening and transformative growth.
Journaling Exercise: “My Life NOW!!!”
Participants were then led through a personal journaling exercise designed to encourage deep reflection on their current realities and future aspirations. They were invited to consider several guiding questions: What aspects of their current work or personal life energise them the most? What are two or three aspirations, areas of interest, or underdeveloped talents they would like to focus on as they continue their journey as formators of disciples of Christ? Conversely, what aspects of their work or life cause the most frustration? And what internal or external factors might be holding them back?
Participants were also asked to reflect on a recent moment when one of the inner voices — Judgment, Cynicism, or Fear — may have interfered with their growth. The Voice of Judgment might have shut down their open mind, leading to reactive thinking rather than genuine inquiry. The Voice of Cynicism could have closed their heart, preventing meaningful connection. The Voice of Fear may have blocked their will, making it difficult to let go and embrace new possibilities.
The exercise concluded with a powerful prompt: to fast forward to the end of one’s life and reflect on what they would hope to see at that moment. What kind of legacy or footprint would they wish to leave behind?
This journaling exercise served as a powerful personal entry point into the deeper work ahead, preparing participants for the next phase of the workshop.
3D Modelling – Sculpting in pairs
The session began with Anna Leong introducing the 3D Modelling exercise: Sculpting in Pairs. Participants were invited to pair up with someone they knew the least, encouraging new connections. The goal of the hands-on sculpting activity was to help formators sense and express their current reality, experience the importance of deep listening (particularly at Levels 2, 3, and 4 of the U Process), and enter into the state of “presencing” — a moment of connection with one’s highest future potential.
Each pair was given clay and an instruction sheet guiding them through the steps. While sculpting, each participant was encouraged to share their personal story. The exercise helped them identify aspects of their life or ministry they may need to let go of, in order to allow new possibilities to emerge.
Formators shared that the exercise helped them feel truly heard and appreciated. Many also expressed a renewed sense of connection, noting they felt less alone in their journeys.
3D Mapping – the five pastoral pathways
The next session introduced 3D Mapping, a collaborative group exercise designed to incorporate multiple perspectives and dimensions in order to better understand complex systems. This methodology was used to explore the Five Pastoral Pathways outlined in the FABC50 Document, namely:
• From Foreign Expressions to an Inculturated Proclamation of the Gospel.
• From Basic Ecclesial Communities to Basic Human Communities.
• From Dialogue to Synodality.
• From Proclamation to Storytelling.
• From the Beaten Track to New Pastoral Priorities
Participants were divided into ten country-based teams, each consisting of six to seven members. Two teams were assigned to work on each of the five pathways. Using a variety of creative materials—such as clay, wool, thread, coloured pencils, and flipcharts—each team was first tasked with sculpting a representation of the current reality of their assigned pathway. This first creation was referred to as Sculpture 1.
While some groups initially found the process challenging, the exercise quickly gained momentum as participants engaged in meaningful discussions and visual expression. Once Sculpture 1 was completed, the teams were guided to reflect on it from four cardinal perspectives:
• East: Focus on feelings and relationships.
• South: Focus on truth and action.
• West: Focus on barriers and bottlenecks.
• North: Focus on what is ending, what is emerging, and the highest future potential.
Following a moment of silence, participants were invited to sense what was emerging and then transform their original sculpture into a new representation of their envisioned future—Sculpture 2.
Teams then reflected on the changes between Sculpture 1 and Sculpture 2, identifying the leverage points that had enabled this transformation. These insights were captured on flipcharts and shared with the larger group, allowing for mutual learning and inspiration.
The exercise proved to be a powerful tool for collective discernment. It brought to light shared hopes, creative visions, and the real potential for transformation when communities engage in honest reflection and collaborative action.
Journaling & Dialogue Walk
After the group work, participants were invited into a period of personal journaling as preparation for a Dialogue Walk. Each person was once again paired with someone they knew less well, encouraging fresh connections and deeper sharing.
The journaling exercise was designed to prompt introspection and self-awareness. Participants were asked to reflect on several questions, such as: What energises you most in your current personal or professional life? What aspirations or underdeveloped talents do you want to nurture? What currently frustrates you? What holds you back?
They were also encouraged to consider moments when internal barriers had interfered with their openness or growth, specifically the voice of Judgment (which shuts down the open mind), the voice of Cynicism (which shuts down the open heart), and the voice of Fear (which shuts down the open will). Finally, they were prompted to look ahead to the end of their lives and ask themselves: What kind of legacy or footprint would I hope to leave behind?
With hearts open and minds prepared, the participants embarked on their Dialogue Walks. These walks began and ended with prayer, invoking the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide their conversations.
After the Dialogue Walks, participants returned for lunch, followed by a period of silent reflection, allowing them to internalise the insights and connections formed during the activity.
Revisiting the Pathway Teams
In the afternoon, participants returned to their Pathway Teams to reflect on the following guiding questions: We see… We sense/feel… We are called to…
This practice allowed each group to deepen their awareness of their collective insights and discern the emerging calls to action.
Sharing best practices & Closing Circle
A dedicated session on sharing best practices followed, allowing formators to listen deeply to one another’s lived experiences and insights.
The final gathering was a Closing Circle. Participants were gently guided to revisit the journey of the past few days — recalling moments of insight, emotion, and connection. Each formator was invited to share a single word or sentence to express what they were feeling in that moment. In this space of shared presence, every voice was heard, affirming the sense of true community that had taken root.
The session concluded with a private journaling exercise, inviting participants to reflect on how they would continue their journey of listening, reflection, and study of the FABC50 Document. A brief feedback form was then completed, offering insights on the workshop experience.
The day concluded with a lively and joy-filled Cultural Evening, where each country group presented a cultural item — either a traditional dance, group performance, or song. The event was a celebration of Asia’s rich diversity and unity.
The evening ended on a reverent note, with Singaporean facilitators Anna Leong and Joanne Chua leading the group in a hymn to Mary, followed by a final blessing from Bishop Allwyn D’Silva.
