SANTA SABINA - June 23 2008 -- The members of the Dialogue Commission of the Order (Sr Anna Morrone: Roma, frs Frederic Mvumbi: Nairobi, Emilio Platti: Leuven, Jean-Jacques Pérennès: Cairo, Pascal Paulus: Faisalabad, Claudio Monge: Istanbul, Marcello di Tora: Palermo, Márcio Couto and Chrys McVey: Curia, regrets from Sr Franka Iqweilo: Nigeria) met in Santa Sabina from 3-7 June 2008.

The Commission reviewed its role and mandate from General Chapters, beginning with Providence (ACG 199), which charged it with ‘encouraging the formation of brothers and sisters in the area of Muslim-Christian Dialogue,’ and with the organization of the Journées Romaines Dominicaines, held every four years for Dominicans working with Muslims or living in Muslim countries.

The Commission sees one important task as that of convincing members of the Order that dialogue is a new locus theologicus that will transform the way we do theology. The Commission nominated two new members to supplement the members who agreed to continue to serve, agreed on models to develop students’ interest by two-week workshops in Cairo every three years. The 2009 workshop will be for English-speaking Dominicans.

After discussing the letter sent by Muslim scholars to Christian religious leaders in October 2007, A Common Word Between Us, the Commission will monitor the discussion, especially the meeting at the Vatican in November 2008 with a delegation from the signatories, and report to the Order.

The final part of the meeting was taken up with planning for the Journées Romaines Dominicaines, set for 27 August to 1 September 2009. The topic chosen is ‘Universal Salvation Challenged by Religious Identity,’ and speakers are being contacted. The planning committee will meet in Rome from 7’9 January 2009.

Chrys McVey OP