Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church - Bishops Conference in Manila (FABC )

Bishop Skylstad traveled to Manila to attend the FABC as a fraternal delegate from the United States.

The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) is an association of episcopal conferences in South, Southeast, East and Central Asia, established with the approval of the Holy See. Its purpose is to foster among its members solidarity and co-responsibility for the welfare of Church and society in Asia.



	The 9th Plenary Assembly of the FABC opened on August 11, 2009 with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Manila Cathedral presided by Francis Cardinal Arinze, Papal envoy to the assembly. The cardinal concelebrated with 6 cardinals and some 100 bishops and priests. Bishop Skylstad was among them.






	In total, 22 Asian countries were represented at this year's Plenary Assembly, including two countries from Central Asia - Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. There were two representatives of the Holy See, with Francis Cardinal Arinze as the official Papal Delegate. From outside Asia, bishops from two European countries (Germany and Spain) came, as well as bishops from New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada.

	The conference theme was "Living the Eucharist with Christ in Asia."

	The previous FABC Plenary Assembly held in Manila was in 1995 with Pope John Paul II's visit at the 25th anniversary of the FABC during the World Youth Day celebrations.
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