Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Oct 1: The Commission for IRD of the Karnataka Catholic Bishop’s conference organized a two-day training programme in dialogue recently at Ashirvad, here.

As many as 35 participants from eight Catholic dioceses, six pastors from Churche of South India and three pastors of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and two pastors from other Christian denominations participated actively in the programme.

Fr Vincent Sekhar SJ, an expert in the inter-religious field and the author of the book 'Practice of Inter Religious Dialogue', was the resource person the first day. He led the group through the meaning of religion and the plurality of religions and hence the need and meaning of IRD. For most of the participants this was a very good clarification of several half understood concepts in the area.

Dr A Pushparajan formerly head of department of religious studies at Madurai Kamraj University took the sessions on the second day and dealt with dialogue in practice in the context of the meeting points between Hinduism and Christianity.

Fr Ronnie Prabhu, secretary of Commission for Dialogue enlightened the group regarding several ways of organising programs in IRD to heighten awareness of other religions and remove prejudice, programmes to create good-will with the other religious communities and
programmes to foster deep spiritual experience.

Participants then formed groups to plan out activities in their specific area. They would, of course, have to work through parish priests and institution heads.

Regional secretary for Inter-Religious Dialogue Fr Ronnie Prabhu SJ was the organizer of the event. Margaret Rebello and Olga Noronha worked out the details of the programme.