In May, while still teaching at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Maria De Giorgi was also involved in other activities, including a three-day conference held in Camaldoli on 13-15 May, on ‘The Practice of Hesychasm in the Christian Tradition and the Nenbutsu in Pure Land Buddhism.’
The beginning of April was marked by an important event: the arrival of Fr Rocco Viviano, a Xaverian Missionary, who has been appointed as the new vice-director of the Shinmeizan Centre of Spirituality and Interreligious Dialogue. Fr Rocco obtained a doctorate from Heythrop College, University of London, with a thesis on Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI’s theology of interreligious dialogue. He has been lecturing for eleven years on theology of interreligious dialogue and theology of mission at the Loyola School of Theology of the Ateneo de Manila, at the Maryhill School of Theology of Manila (Philippines), at Heythrop College (UK) and other academic institutions.
1-3 January 2016 – January started with the traditional New Year visits of people from the neighbouring villages. We welcomed them with the customary blessing in the hondo (prayer room), which was been decorated with the shimenawa (sacred rope) and the osonae no mochi (rice cake offerings). Then was followed by refreshments, with a cup of azuki, the traditional drink made of sweet beans, consumed together in our dining room. In the atmosphere typical of the Japanese New Year, moments like these are precious opportunities to revive memories and strengthen friendship.
Second Thursday of the month – We regularly held the monthly day of prayer and recollection, with good numbers of participants. In March 2016 the day of recollection reached its 203rd edition.
20 January and 7 March – Fr Franco participated in the regular meetings of the Fukuoka Interreligious Study Group of Buddhists and Christians, which are held every two months.
21 March – On the occasion of the Buddhist festival of higan (Spring equinox), which is especially dedicated to the commemoration of the deceased, Fr Franco gave a lecture at the Seimeizan-Schweitzer Temple of Tamana on the role of faith in Buddhism and Christianity.
From February to the beginning of June, Maria De Giorgi will be in Rome, lecturing at the Pontifical Gregorian University on the theology and history of interreligious dialogue, particularly between Buddhism and Christianity.
News Update - January-March 2016
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