Christianity
finds itself in a radically new situation today at the threshold of third
millennium. Many Christians, especially
of Europe and the Americas, turn to the Eastern masters and traditions for
spiritual nourishment today; this has to be taken as a sign of the times, and
consequently it has to be interpreted with openness to the question: what the
Spirit telling the Church today? Karl
Rahner, SJ seemed to have understood this challenge: “The Christian of the
future will be a mystic, or else no Christian at all!” A genuine seeker will listen to the
Spirit on the crossroads of religions.
Deeply rooted in one’s religion one will open oneself to the power and
presence of the Spirit manifest in other religions, in their sages and symbols,
scriptures and traditions. The religious
person of the future will thus be an inter-religious person. The spiritual depth of each religion unfolds
itself through inter-religious dialogue.
“Through dialogue we make God present in our midst. As we open ourselves to one another, we open
ourselves to God…As believers of difference religions we are all co-pilgrims in
pursuit of the goal that God sets for us.” (Pope John Paul II, at Madras and at
Asisi, 1986). The encounter between the
heritage of the West and of the East takes place deep within each person, each
religious community. (written by the colloquium comittee)
In
this spirit of inter-religious dialogue, Maryknoll Society organizes a
colloquium on inter-religious dialogue every two years for the members of Maryknoll Society,
Congregation, Lay Missioners and partner in Mission. The topic for this year is Confucianism/Ruism,
which was held in Hong Kong and hometown of Confucius in Qufu-Shandong
Province on May 18-27. 
There
were 31 participants attending the colloquium in Hong Kong while
23 participants were able to go to Qufu.
They are coming from several mission countries: China (Hong Kong and
mainland), USA, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and
Bangladesh. The four Philippines Lay Missioners were not
granted the China visa.
Mass
and farewell party for Br. Bob Butsch, MM, who will retire in USA, was held on
May 20, while memorial Mass for Fr. Richard Dries, MM followed by cook out was
held on May 28.
The
colloquium was very well planned and organized by Fr. Brian Barrons, MM, Br.
John Beeching, MM, Fr. Russ Feldmeier, MM, Fr. Roberto Rodriguez, MM, Sr.
Kathleen Reiley, MM with the help of Ms. Wang Wei, who is the Maryknoll China
group mainland coordinator.
I
am grateful for the opportunity to attend this colloquium as it gives me better
understanding not only on Confucianism but also on inter-religious dialogue including private lecture on the polarities in
spirituality by Br. John Beeching, MM, and
the opportunity to share stories and experiences with the rest of the group, including my
classmates during Maryknoll Lay Missioners Orientation Program in 2009: Ms.
Lindsay Doucette. Thank you very
much!
Here
is the link of about Confucianism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism, Qufu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qufu,
Analect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Joegoupd4o and the pictures:
http://share.shutterfly.com/
Analect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Joegoupd4o and the pictures:
http://share.shutterfly.com/
Hong Kong, May 30, 2014
Sr.
Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.
Let’s
do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible
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