Indian College Program Highlights Dialogue as a Mission for Peace

Dialogue is not merely a pastoral method but a fundamental expression of Christian mission, capable of transforming suspicion into trust, division into understanding and conflict into peace, said Fr. Stephen Anton Lopes, IMS, during an extension program at St. Albert’s College in Ranchi, eastern India.

Held on August 26 at the college auditorium, the program was titled “Dialogue as Mission: The Christian Vocation to Build Communities of Peace.” Fr. Lopes, director of Maitri-Dhara in Vaishali, Bihar, served as the resource person.

Introducing the program, Fr. Raju Felix Crasta, director of St. Albert’s Institute of Philosophy, highlighted the growing importance of dialogue for seminarians, Religious and future pastoral leaders serving in an increasingly pluralistic society.

Reflecting on Christian mission, Fr. Lopes emphasized that mission is not simply something Christians undertake but a way of life. “My mission is my life,” he said, identifying jealousy, hatred, prejudice, misunderstanding, division and violence as forces that make authentic dialogue increasingly urgent.

Addressing interreligious dialogue, Fr. Lopes said religious plurality is an integral part of contemporary society. Dialogue, he stressed, does not require Christians to compromise their faith but calls them to remain rooted in their convictions while approaching the faith, cultures and spiritual experiences of others with respect.

Drawing on the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra Aetate, he recalled the Church’s call for mutual understanding, respect and cooperation among followers of different religions. He identified listening, sharing, understanding and mutual respect as foundations of meaningful dialogue, and outlined four forms: intellectual exchange, spiritual experience, action and life.

He gave particular attention to the dialogue of action, through which people of different religious and social backgrounds collaborate to address common concerns, promote justice and peace, and care for creation.

Fr. Lopes also linked dialogue with the building of a culture of peace. Peace, he said, involves not only the absence of war but also justice, dignity, compassion and harmonious relationships. He described three dimensions of authentic peace: peace within oneself, peace with others and peace with nature, drawing inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and his concern for creation.

Brother Clement Digal, a theologian at St. Albert’s College, said dialogue is particularly important in India, a country marked by religious, cultural and linguistic diversity.

“Christians are called to build bridges rather than walls,” Brother Digal said, emphasizing that genuine dialogue begins with humility and attentive listening and should lead to friendship, solidarity and collaboration for the common good.

About 400 faculty members, staff and students, along with priests and women Religious from local communities, participated in the program. Participants were encouraged to become bridge-builders and agents of reconciliation through listening, compassion, forgiveness, respect and responsible communication.