Jesuit Secretariat for Dialogue (JSD)
 

In 1994 the Jesuit Conference of South Asia (JCSA) decided to merge two previously existing secretariats, the Secretariat for the Service of Faith and Religion in India (SEFRI) and the Secretariat for Jesuits Among Muslims in India (JAMI) into the new Secretariat for Dialogue (JSD). This Secretariat aims at fostering Interreligious dialogue at various levels. Following the demands of GC 34, this Secretariat attempts to make interreligious dialogue an essential dimension of our One Mission. Translating this on the practical level for most Jesuits, it means that the Secretariat strives to help them, precisely as religiously committed persons, to understand the significance and the need for entering into dialogue with anyone of good will, especially in the context of religious conflicts, and encourage them to work together toward trust and co-operation, peace and harmony of life.

 
In its practicality, the Secretariat has been urging and helping in establishing Core Group or Commission of Jesuits interested and involved in IRD (Interreligious Dialogue) in all Provinces/Regions in the South Asian Jesuit Assistancy. Many of the Provinces (e.g. Bombay, Goa, Gujarat, Ranchi, Patna, Dumka-Raiganj, Madurai, Kerala, Sri Lanka) have formed Core Teams for this ministry and certain Provinces (e.g. Madurai, Dumka-Raiganj) have formulated Vision Statements on this Ministry of IRD.

Fr. Vincent Sekhar, S.J.
Arrupe Illam
Arul Anandar College
Karumathur, Madurai Dt. 625514
Ph:04549-287299/287222/287420/287421
Cell: 0-9443377842
Fax: 04549-287208
Email: sekharsj@rediffmail.com