Journées Romaines Dominicaines 2018

The 2018 JRD gathering of the sisters and brothers of the Order involved in Christian-Muslim relations took place at the Angelicum between 26 and 30 September.

This year, it was held in commemoration of the beatification of Pierre Claverie, Dominican Bishop of Oran, Algeria who was assassinated with his Muslim driver and friend Mohamed Bouchiki, as they returned one evening to the Diocesan house. Each day of the conference, with the theme “One Life Meeting Another,” developed some aspect of the approach to interfaith relations taken by Pierre Claverie, who was a personal friend of Jean Jacques Pérennès OP (presently Director of École Biblique in Jerusalem). Each Christian keynote speaker was also accompanied by a Muslim guest speaker from various regions of the world.

The Master of the Order, Bruno Cadoré addressed the gathering on the first evening. A keynote address was also given by fr Martin Ganieri OP, English Prior Provincial.

It  was a time of meeting some new people and learning about developments in different parts of the world. As well, there was some discussion about how the Angelicum can continue its mission of preparing students for ongoing participation in interreligious relations, especially between Christianity and Islam.

One highlight was the evening presentation of a theatrical tribute, “Pierre et Mohamed” written and performed by fr Adrien Candiard OP. Another was an afternoon visit to the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI) where we met the newly appointed Rector Fr. Diego Cucarella, M.Afr., who gave us a tour and spoke about its history.

The beatification of Pierre Claverie is now planned to take place in Algeria on 8 December. The eighteen to be beatified, who were all assassinated by Islamists during the Algerian Civil War (1994-1996), include the seven monks of Tibhirine whose lives were dramatized in the 2010 French film “Of Gods and Men.”

While in Rome the Catholic Women Speak Network, led by English theologian Tina Beattie, held a symposium and book launch of “Visions and Vocations,” their second volume featuring the voices of Catholic women around the world. The Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, HE Melissa Hitchman hosted a Reception for CWS at her Embassy Residence. As invited guests, Dr Maeve Heaney from ACU and I signed five of the books which Melissa was to present to the five Australian delegates at the Synod, including Archbishop Anthony Fisher.

Sr Patricia OP