“Inter-religious and Ecumenical Dialogue in the synodal context of Church in India”

I had the opportunity to participate in a two-day Ecumenical and Interreligious Seminar organized by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) at the National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) in Bangalore. The theme: “Interreligious and Ecumenical Dialogue in the synodal context of Church in India” The seminar brought together representatives and commission heads for ecumenism and interreligious dialogue from various dioceses across the country. We treated the various topics with workshops.

It was a truly enriching experience, filled with meaningful discussions, mutual sharing, and a deep spirit of unity in diversity. I was invited to moderate one of the sessions, “the synodal pedagogy to Decode and Grow in Effective Interfaith Dialogue”. There were others topics, all focused on practical approaches to dialogue and collaboration among different Christian denominations and other faith traditions.

Interestingly, I realized I was the only woman religious participating in the gathering among all the heads of the dioceses of India for Interreligious and ecumenical commission.  This made the experience even more significant for me, as it highlighted the importance of women's voices and presence in the dialogue for unity and peace.