On heading the world's largest diocese -
spanning 4 nations and 3M square kms
Interview with Mons. Paul Hinder
by Carmen Elena Villa
ROME, OCT. 14, 2010 (Zenit.org).- When Bishop Paul Hinder looks at a map of his territory to plan pastoral visits, the view he contemplates is unparalleled in the rest of the Church.
The 68-year-old bishop, a native of Switzerland, is the Apostolic Vicar of Arabia, and his "diocese" covers five nations and some 3 million square kilometers (1.6 million square miles).
His 1.3 million-member flock is comprised entirely of immigrants who daily interact in coexistence with the Islamic world. They represent as many as 90 nationalities, with particularly strong concentrations from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Europe and the United States.
The headquarters of his vicariate is in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, where there are seven parishes. But he also oversees four parishes in Oman, another four in Yemen, and one each in Qatar and Bahrain.
The churches of the vicariate generally have no external signs of the faith:ages: no bells or crosses. And the faithful often gather to worship in private homes.
ZENIT tracked down Bishop Hinder, who has served the vicariate for just over five years, as he is in Rome for the synod on the Middle East. Today, in fact, he gave an intervention at the synodal assembly regarding the reality of his mission.
How would you describe the faith of the people in these Arab countries?
It's true that our people quite often live a bit shut-in among themselves, in a context of individuals that profess the same faith. Not only when they come to church, but also in meeting places at work, and not infrequently. sharing the same apartment, etc.
It's not that they are completely isolated, but it is also true, that they are faced with a situation that is a challenge to their personal faith. For example on the values of life itself or how they live their relationship with God and their relationship with others or in being committed to and from the Gospel.
This worries our faithful, but in the main it unites them, less so in the case of others. Because of this they organize themselves -- very often with the pretext of prayer -- in associations where they can live this faith, I would say more developed, perhaps, than others and above all in the Holy Mass. The Eucharistic liturgy is very important for them; in fact our few churches are truly packed. Even during the week thousands attend Mass.
Do the faithful carry out works of charity?
Certainly. They face the whole challenge, from the moral point of view, on how to live in keeping with the Gospel and God's Commandments. These people live not only the aspects of religious devotion to the Sacraments.
They wowant to be of help to their brothers and sisters who have problems, as those in prison, and in hospitals - visiting the sick, taking Communion to them, etc. This is often done through organized work in groups - many of them help the few priests available by going to places where they usually cannot go.
I would like to add that active catechesis goes on, all in the hands of the laity. Every Friday, they catechize more than 20,000 children.
What are the main riches of the faith in these countries?
I would say their profound faith, which is expressed in different ways, a quite vital devotion not only through the sacraments, but also in the veneration of saints, participation in prayer groups or Bible study, etc.
And then, as I said earlier, they are sensitive and attentive in helping others, whether in the countries where they now live in in their home countries. If there is a disaster in another country, as for example in Pakistan, a special collection is organized in the church, and the people are generous. They have an active sense of sharing despite the existing problems.
How can Christians remain faithful along with Islam?
We live the daily presence of Islam (we hear if five times a day, above all). I would say that the different immigrant communitiees live "next" to each other, not "with" the others.
With the Muslims, there are the inevitable professional contacts, in offices, at work, the daily routine of living, when anything has to be done officialls. Obviously, educators are those who are most exposed and most engaged in dialog with Muslims. It's not the case with the majority of immigrant workers.
What is your personal experience as the pastor of such special people, who live together in another culture and another faith?
It is a challenge that is beyond human capacity. If I did not have the Lord's promise that he would always be with us and if I did not have the encouraging faith of my brothers and sisters, I would not be able to do it. On the otehr hand, to be exposed every day to another very powerful faith -- Islam -- can be a stimulus to deepen one's own faith and the practice of it.
Do the attacks suffered by Christian of the East (India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Iraq) especially in the last two years, put fear in Christians of Arabia?
In our countries, as opposed to those you mentioned, we feel relatively secure. There can be precarious situations of security in certain parts, but generally there aren't direct threats. Clearly this does not take away the reality that very often the fact of being Christian has discriminatory consequences.
How is the relationship with non-Catholic Christians in Arabia?
Relations with non-Catholic Christians are generally good. The greatest problem for us is the proselytism of certain evangelical groups who fish in our waters because they are not allowed to do so among non-Christians. Very often they work with more than questionable methods.
How can Catholics transmit their religion to their children in an environment of such strong restriction of religious freedom?
Ideally, it should be done first of all in the families. But they often lack time and sufficient knowledge of the Bible and of the Catholic faith. So It is important that they send their children to catechism in our parishes (in 2009 there were more than 25,000 children per weekend). In certain situations, they have to this in a hidden way, in private. I have great admiration for so many laypeople who put their gifts at the service of the Church by being catechists, as wek seek to provide the necessary formation even if it isn't always easy.
What do parishioners and faithful expect from the synod?
It seems to me that our faithful expect above all an encouragement in their situation, which is anything but easy. We expect from bishops that they take seriously their responsibility as pastors to give the flock the bread of the word and the bread of life. Finally they expect recognition, namely that the whole Church take note of their existence and their struggles. In this connection we expect solidarity in the faith, which is expressed above all in prayer.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 26/10/2010 19:42]