More than 1,300 attend AACOM 4

PENANG: After 11 months of planning, the Church of Divine Mercy (CDM) successfully hosted the 4th Asian Apostolic Congress on Mercy (AACOM 4) from Sept 26-28. It was held at the SPICE Convention Centre and attracted about 1,300 participants from 13 countries in Asia with the theme Experiencing Mercy through the Joy of the Gospel in Asia. At the opening ceremony, the officials and religious paraded in followed by the flag waving representatives of the Philippines, Indonesia, Guam (USA), Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, S. Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Poland, Vatican and Malaysia. The largest contingent of participants came from the Philippines.

In his welcoming speech, His Excellency, Bishop Ruperto Santos, the Episcopal Coordinator of WACOM (World Apostolic Congress on Mercy) Asia mentioned that the Divine Mercy devotion is the fastest growing evangelising force in Asia.

Fr Martin Arlando, the Overall Coordinator for AACOM 4, explained that the theme of the Congress was chosen in response to the call of His Holiness Pope Francis when he exhorted, “… the joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.” He hoped that everyone at the Congress would achieve what the Holy Father had wished, namely they would be set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness when they accept God’s offer of salvation. The Holy Father also encourages the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelisation, marked by the joy of the gospel while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in the years to come.

Over the three-day Congress, nine talks were held, each accompanied by personal testimonies of the way the Divine Mercy of God had touched each of their lives. The delegates were given heartfelt stories relating the work and power of God’s Mercy over the different cultures and peoples of Asia.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online