Journal September-November 2017

A brief account of the main activities of interreligious dialogue at Shinmeizan

2017: 30^th since the foundation

September

3 Upon invitation by the Buddhist lay association Risshokoseikai , Maria De Giorgi and Fr. Peter Sonoda represent Shinmeizan at the celebration of the 60^th anniversary of the foundation of this association in Kumamoto.

8-14 Maria De Giorgi attends the international interreligious encounter called by the Community of Saint Egidio at Münster–Osnabrück (Germany), speaking on the subject of “Religions in Asia: the dignity of human life and the global market”.

15-16 Fr. Franco and Maria, travel to Nara, to attend the symposium organized by the Committee on interreligious dialogue of the Bishops’ Conference of Japan – of which both of them are Consultors – on the subject of “Young people and religion” . The following day, they join the Catholic delegation paying an official visit to the headquarters of the Tenrikyo, the oldest of the so called “new religions” of Japan.

23 Three members of the new Japanese religion Byakkoshinkokai pay a visit to Shinmeizan.

24 Fr. Franco leads the interreligious group of Kumamoto in a friendly visit to the Buddhist Temple Choen (Nichiren tradition).

October

1 Omar Tada, a Muslim friend from Kumamoto, pays a visit to Shinmeizan.

7 Ven. Jisen Oshiro, a Zen-Buddhist Nun of the Jion Temple (Lima, Peru) pays a visit to Shinmeizan, accompanied by one of her disciples, and stays with us for a couple of days.

24 Ven. Tatsuta Dai, head of the Buddhist Temple Sairen of Saga (Pure Land tradition), pays a visit to Shinmeizan, accompanied by two friends.

30 Fr. Franco and Maria attend the regular study session of the Fukuoka based Buddhist-Christian Exchange Group, where Maria gives the starting lecture of the meeting, speaking on «The Buddhist concept of engi (co-dependent origination) and the Christian concept of ‘creation’».

31 Fr. Franco pays a visit to the Seimeizan-Schweitzer Temple, and also to the Lutheran church in Tamana.

November

4 Mr. Fukuda, a member of the new Japanese religion Byakkoshinkokai visits Shinmeizan with Ven. Takada, Kannushi of a Shinto Temple in the nearby city of Kurume.

5 Fr. Franco, together with the people of our village, (Heboura) attends the thanksgiving celebration held annually after the autumn rice harvest at the local Shinto Temple.

11-16 Upon invitation by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Fr. Franco takes part in the 6th International Buddhist-Christian Colloquium held at Taipei (Taiwan) on “Buddhists and Christians together on the path of non-violence” during which he speaks on: “The teaching of Jesus on non- violence”.　On this occasion, His Eminence Card. Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for interreligious dialogue, bestows on Fr. Franco a “Certificate of appreciation” for his 30 years old commitment to Buddhist-Christian dialogue.

17-18 Fr. Franco attends the semiannual meeting of ‘Kakehashi’ – the association of Catholic Religious Institutes cooperating for interreligious dialogue in Japan – held at Kameoka and Ayabe (Kyoto) and takes part in the group’s visits to the double headquarters of Omoto, one of the main Shinto schools not attached to the national association of Shinto Shrines

29 The Japanese Committee of the World Federation for the Promotion of Peace, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation - celebrated at Hirado (Nagasaki) with the participation of numerous representatives of Japanese Religions - has invited Maria to hold the key address of the day on the subject of: «The spirituality and praxis of interreligious dialogue according to the catholic Church.”