Franciscan Institute for Asian Theological Studies is born
The new body presided by Vietnamese friar Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen has been established at the Seraphicum
A bridge between Rome and Asia, between the centre of Christianity and a geographical periphery where Franciscans have a great deal to give in terms of enculturation of the faith and their charisma.
This is the mission of FIATS, the new Franciscan Institute for Asian Theological Studies presented this morning at the annual feast which the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) celebrates in honour of its patron saint St. Bonaventure, a theologian, seraphic doctor and one of St. Francis’ main biographers as well as his successor as minister-general of the Order of Friars Minor.
The new Institute, which was the idea of Vietnamese friar and engineer Brother Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen (OFM Conv.) backed by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (whose minister general Brother Marco Tasca was present this morning along with Mgr. Giuseppe Piemontese, the Bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia), will be based at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure in Rome. This location was not chosen by chance: It was selected not only because Brother Nguyen is a lecturer of Exegesis and Biblical Theology at the Seraphicum and is the Faculty’s Vice-President, but also because of the rich multicultural aspect of this Franciscan educational facility which represents 22 countries and as such allows for a special focus to be given to world issues.
Last year Brother Nguyen and two of his collaborators were awarded the Carlo Maria Martini International Award for their book The Bible and Asian Culture (which will be published in English at the end of the academic year). The award won for this book – which stood out because of the innovative way in which it highlights the relationship between the Bible and Asian culture - provided an impetus for the creation of FIATS.
This is precisely what the Institute is all about: it aims to encourage and spread academic research and the reflections of Franciscan friars on the life of faith and the Franciscan vocation, whilst at the same time supporting Asian Friars who choose to study at Pontifical academic centres.
“The new Institute is yet another step along the path of promoting intercultural dialogue as part of the efforts toward unity of knowledge. It thus helps shape the profile of our theology Faculty. The Institute is a continuation of the work started by the Faculty in 2008 with the creation of a department of intercultural dialogue in Ragusa (Sicily), with the help of the local diocese and the Sicilian province of Friars Minor Conventual,” said the Institute’s head, Brother Domenico Paoletti.
The Institute aims to create a widespread synergy between the various Franciscan families and aims to be a useful instrument for the enculturation of the Christian faith and Franciscanism across the Asian continent, making the most of local voices, people with first hand experience of often very varied realities. During his visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines the Pope Francis himself stated that “Asia is the future of the Church”.
“The Asian Church has grown in terms of numbers but remains a minority, albeit a significant one,” Brother Nguyen said. “We believe that in today’s pluralistic world it is necessary to create a solid basis for theological and faith-related reflection that is enculturated in different contexts. This can be achieved through the humble ministry of research , reflection, formation and fraternal exchange.”
Other than forging ties with other Franciscan families, the Institute’s initial aims will also include the move towards a continuous and coordinated exchange with former students who obtained academic qualifications from the Seraphicum and are currently engaged in missions in Asian territories.
Source: http://www.lastampa.it/2015/03/14/vaticaninsider/eng/news/franciscan-institute-for-asian-theological-studies-is-born-pKPOiehxY6W8KAevVdI6xN/pagina.html
This is the mission of FIATS, the new Franciscan Institute for Asian Theological Studies presented this morning at the annual feast which the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) celebrates in honour of its patron saint St. Bonaventure, a theologian, seraphic doctor and one of St. Francis’ main biographers as well as his successor as minister-general of the Order of Friars Minor.
The new Institute, which was the idea of Vietnamese friar and engineer Brother Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen (OFM Conv.) backed by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (whose minister general Brother Marco Tasca was present this morning along with Mgr. Giuseppe Piemontese, the Bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia), will be based at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure in Rome. This location was not chosen by chance: It was selected not only because Brother Nguyen is a lecturer of Exegesis and Biblical Theology at the Seraphicum and is the Faculty’s Vice-President, but also because of the rich multicultural aspect of this Franciscan educational facility which represents 22 countries and as such allows for a special focus to be given to world issues.
Last year Brother Nguyen and two of his collaborators were awarded the Carlo Maria Martini International Award for their book The Bible and Asian Culture (which will be published in English at the end of the academic year). The award won for this book – which stood out because of the innovative way in which it highlights the relationship between the Bible and Asian culture - provided an impetus for the creation of FIATS.
This is precisely what the Institute is all about: it aims to encourage and spread academic research and the reflections of Franciscan friars on the life of faith and the Franciscan vocation, whilst at the same time supporting Asian Friars who choose to study at Pontifical academic centres.
“The new Institute is yet another step along the path of promoting intercultural dialogue as part of the efforts toward unity of knowledge. It thus helps shape the profile of our theology Faculty. The Institute is a continuation of the work started by the Faculty in 2008 with the creation of a department of intercultural dialogue in Ragusa (Sicily), with the help of the local diocese and the Sicilian province of Friars Minor Conventual,” said the Institute’s head, Brother Domenico Paoletti.
The Institute aims to create a widespread synergy between the various Franciscan families and aims to be a useful instrument for the enculturation of the Christian faith and Franciscanism across the Asian continent, making the most of local voices, people with first hand experience of often very varied realities. During his visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines the Pope Francis himself stated that “Asia is the future of the Church”.
“The Asian Church has grown in terms of numbers but remains a minority, albeit a significant one,” Brother Nguyen said. “We believe that in today’s pluralistic world it is necessary to create a solid basis for theological and faith-related reflection that is enculturated in different contexts. This can be achieved through the humble ministry of research , reflection, formation and fraternal exchange.”
Other than forging ties with other Franciscan families, the Institute’s initial aims will also include the move towards a continuous and coordinated exchange with former students who obtained academic qualifications from the Seraphicum and are currently engaged in missions in Asian territories.
Source: http://www.lastampa.it/2015/03/14/vaticaninsider/eng/news/franciscan-institute-for-asian-theological-studies-is-born-pKPOiehxY6W8KAevVdI6xN/pagina.html
