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Missio Dei in a Multicultural World: Interreligious Dialogue and Intercultural Mission Highlight Day 3 of SVD Conference
Renowned theologian Professor Catherine Cornille of Boston College (USA) delivered the keynote address, titled “Prospects for an Interreligious Missio Dei.”
In her thought-provoking presentation, Cornille invited the Divine Word Missionaries and participants to reimagine mission not as a project of conversion, but as a shared journey with people of other faiths in co-witnessing to divine truth.
“True interreligious mission,” she said, “is about peacebuilding, contemplation, and mutual learning.” Drawing on experiences from Asia, she illustrated how authentic encounters with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam can enrich Christian identity while deepening respect for religious diversity.
She emphasized the need for epistemic humility, theological openness, and collaboration on global issues such as poverty and ecology.
Citing theologians like David Bosch and Pope Francis, Cornille offered a compelling vision of Missio Dei that transcends religious boundaries and fosters spiritual renewal.
The keynote session was moderated by Fr. Chris Chaplin, MSC, President of the International Association of Catholic Missiologists (IACM).
Following the keynote, Fr. Antonio Pernia, SVD, former Superior General and current professor at the Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies (DWIMS), Tagaytay (Philippines), reflected on the theme “Interculturality: Mission in an Age of Multiculturality.”
He urged the Church to move from mere inculturation to a deeper practice of interculturality—a dynamic, reciprocal process where cultures engage and transform one another in the light of the Gospel.
“In today’s world marked by migration and diversity,” he said, “interculturality is not optional. It is the future of the mission.”
Fr. Pernia celebrated the SVD’s longstanding commitment to cultural engagement, particularly through the Anthropos Institute, and envisioned a Church that is inclusive, dialogical, and a prophetic witness to unity in diversity.
Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ, Dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University (USA), offered a timely intervention on “Culture and Synodality.”
Highlighting the ongoing synodal journey initiated by Pope Francis, he described culture as both a gift and a challenge to the Church’s mission.
Drawing on African values such as Ubuntu and traditional palaver practices, Fr. Orobator spoke of the Church as a “symphonic community,” where diverse voices must be heard, engaged, and sometimes challenged.
“Synodality must be countercultural,” he asserted, “calling the Church to confront exclusion, listen deeply, and allow itself to be transformed.”
The plenum sessions were moderated by Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, CMF, Superior General of the Claretian Missionaries. Interactive Q&A sessions after each talk enriched the conversations, as participants from across continents raised questions, offered insights, and reflected on how these themes impact their local missions.
Workshop sessions delved into key practical and theological issues, featuring insights from leading scholars.
Fr. Roger Schroeder, SVD (USA), professor at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, led a session on “Interculturality: Learnings and Challenges,” moderated by Fr. Chris Chaplin, MSC.
Ambrogio Bongiovanni of the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome) tackled the theme “Encountering the O/other,” with Pooda Antoine de Padou of the Pontifical Urbaniana University as moderator.
Fr. Piotr Adamek, SVD (Taiwan), shared reflections on “Encounter of Respect: Inspiration from Taiwanese Folk Religion,” moderated by Gaetano Sabetta, also from the Pontifical Urbaniana University.
The day highlighted the SVD’s global commitment to building bridges among cultures and faith traditions, reaffirming that mission today must be collaborative, dialogical, and rooted in mutual respect and shared hope for a more just and peaceful world.
GMD
