PATTAYA, Thailand (UCAN) -- A resonant chord could be heard all through the first day of a weeklong seminar on priests and the problems they face in Asia.

On Aug. 28, the first full day of "Caring for Priests - Especially For Those with Difficulties," leading archbishops offered similar-sounding advice on how bishops should approach the challenge, even before the dozens of episcopal participants could dig into specific issues.

Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, 54, Bangkok-based apostolic nuncio to Thailand and nuncio or delegate to six other Southeast Asian nations, stressed in his opening-Mass homily that love is the soul of the Church's life and charity is a bishop's first duty.

Speaking at the first session, he reiterated that point by citing what Pope Benedict XVI told bishops of the Dominican Republic on July 5 at the Vatican: "It is desirable that the bonds of charity between the bishop and his priests be very strong and cordial."

Calling priests "principal collaborators" of bishops, the pope urged bishops to "be impartial in their dealings with them, closely acquainted with their personal and pastoral needs, fatherly to them in their difficulties." He asked bishops to "give constant encouragement to their priests' work ... reach out to those who have distanced themselves."

Archbishop Peter Fernando of Madurai, chairman of the Office of Clergy of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC-OC), pointed out to the assembly that when his office conducted its first seminar, in 2006, about 70 rectors and trainers from major seminaries in Asia discussed "Human Formation of Priests - Challenges in the Asian Context."

The 68-year-old Indian prelate noted, however, that this second seminar, taking place Aug. 27-Sept. 1 at Redemptorist Center in Pattaya, 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok, is for bishops, with a focus on priests facing problems in their life and ministry. He said it aims to make bishops aware of conflict situations, help them better understand priests as persons and foster a process of forming a humane, friendly prebyterate in every diocese.

Even if 64 prelates are attending this seminar, he added, assembling bishops from across Asia was so difficult that future meetings will be organized regionally, and FABC-OC will work with clergy commissions in each local Church.

About 40 participants are from South Asia, FABC secretary general Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato noted. The FABC "pools resources for evangelization in Asia," the Oblate prelate said, and since this requires renewed agents of evangelization, there is need to care for priests, especially those with difficulties.

The Philippine archbishop, 68, acknowledged that the seminar involves complex problems and could seem depressing, but said the tone is good. Adding his hope that it would foster fraternity, he suggested that all participants learn each other's name, "including the long names," or at least one bishop's name from each country.

Archbishop Evarist Pinto of Karachi delivered the keynote talk, "Shepherding Role of the Bishop in Relation to Priests in the Mission of the Church." In it he said, "Above all, it is absolutely necessary for the bishop to accompany his priests in their journey through ... their pastoral life."

Such accompaniment, the 73-year-old Pakistan prelate noted, includes not only praying for priests, but also giving them opportunities to "withdraw for quiet moments of prayer and solitude."

He also recommended bishops meet regularly and plan ongoing formation with their priests, and encourage a common life and reconciliation among them.

Bishops in Asia "have an awesome task with regard to the problems faced by our priests," Archbishop Pinto said. Great resources are needed to support "good and hard-working priests," he admitted, but "our people still look up to them with love and respect, and are ever ready to help when called upon."

The prelate stated: "Priests, like all other human beings, have to face the great impact of Western secularism and all that it brings in its train. We have to face this challenge together -- bishops, priests and lay faithful."

"Above all," he concluded, "we need God's help. Besides all the human resources, we as the People of God need to have recourse to God. We the ministers must go back to our initial call and safeguard it through a deep and intense spirituality."

END

(Accompanying photos available at here)