About us
“Let them not quarrel or argue or judge others when they go about in the world, but let them be meek, peaceful, modest, gentle, and humble, speaking courteously to everyone, as is becoming.” (Later Rule, 3,10)
The OFM General Commission for the Service of Dialogue seeks to promote and to serve initiatives of the Order for interfaith, ecumenical and intercultural encounter. It upholds the human, Christian and Franciscan values that form the basis for dialogue-as-encounter; and it expresses its support for the Order's various presences, institutions and projects that are in the service for dialogue.
The Commission recognises that dialogue can be very broad, and that for practical reasons, the agreed scope of this Commission is specifically the promotion and facilitation of encounter between religions, ideologies, cultures and Christian confessions. Its spirit is one of encounter, inclusion, attentiveness, and synodality.
The members of this Commission are appointed by the Minister General of the Order. They meet 'in person' once a year, and at least one other time on-line by video conference. Their activities of collaboration includes the engagement of secretaries and animators of formation, of mission and evangelisation and of JPIC, as well as dialogue partners at different levels.
Members
Br. John Wong, OFM
President
(OFM General Curia)
Br. Albert Marfil, OFM
International Franciscan Community of Peace, Nagasaki Project (JAPAN)
Br. Alberto Joan Pari, OFM
Custody of the Holy Land
Br. Eleuthere Baharanyi Makuta, OFM
International Fraternity for Dialogue, Istanbul (TURKIYE)
Br. Stephane Delavelle, OFM
Custody of the Holy Martyrs of Morocco (MOROCCO)
Br. Lorenzo Raniero, OFM
"San Bernardino" Institute of Ecumenical Studies, Venice (ITALY)
The Commission seeks:
- To develop a common understanding of what dialogue is and with whom;
- To identify and develop specific values for dialogue;
- To begin with Initial Formation so as to develop a posture for dialogue and to provide positive experiences of dialogue – this includes providing formation for formators into dialogue;
- To make dialogue viable at all levels, in ways that can be appreciated, understood, and recognised as being desirable;
- To affirm dialogue initiatives, engagements, and processes that are already happening at individual and fraternal level;
- To set up groups, partnerships, communities, and networks for dialogue at the level of Entities and Conferences; and
- To encourage Entities to have local dialogue animators.
News:
https://www.custodia.org/en/news/magnificat-music-and-voice-teachers/
https://www.custodia.org/en/news/beyond-confusion-magnificat-students-knupfwerk-interreligious-camp/
https://www.custodia.org/en/news/ramadan-karim-signs-hope-jerusalem-still-wounds/
Videos:
https://cmc-terrasanta.org/en/media/terra-santa-news/33964/ayyar-festival-the-family-of-the-'magnificat':-prophecy-of-the-good-life
https://cmc-terrasanta.org/en/media/terra-santa-news/31218/kn%C3%BCpfwerk-2023:-magnificat-inter-religious-and-music-summer-camp
https://cmc-terrasanta.org/en/media/terra-santa-news/27262/different-faiths,-one-hope
Members
Br. John Wong, OFM
President
(OFM General Curia)
Br. Albert Marfil, OFM
International Franciscan Community of Peace, Nagasaki Project (JAPAN)
Br. Alberto Joan Pari, OFM
Custody of the Holy Land
Br. Eleuthere Baharanyi Makuta, OFM
International Fraternity for Dialogue, Istanbul (TURKIYE)
Br. Stephane Delavelle, OFM
Custody of the Holy Martyrs of Morocco (MOROCCO)
Br. Lorenzo Raniero, OFM
"San Bernardino" Institute of Ecumenical Studies, Venice (ITALY)
News
Values
Dialogue is primarily Encounter. In the process of dialogue, reciprocity, complementarity, and mutual enrichment develop, but none of these should be expected or demanded.
Hence, authentic dialogue:
- is not a political, technical or public relations enterprise; but rather, is based on deep and respectful interpersonal relationships and sharing our lives with each other;
- is not transactional and does not seek to receive; but rather, it is gratuitous and it seeks to give of self;
- does not seek to convert the other, or to tell the other what they should do or how they should be; but ultimately, it leads to the conversion of self.
Real dialogue is about the dialogue of life, in which there is mutual respect, empathy and being attuned (‘sintonia’) with the other. The values that form the basis for dialogue-as-encounter are:
A. Human values:
- Our shared humanity: We recognise that we are all human beings, and our world is our common home;
- Respect: We affirm each human being as a unique individual who yearns for acceptance and who deserves respect as a person;
- Human dignity: We uphold the dignity of each person is in his or her uniqueness, which is not to be feared
B. Christian values:
- ‘Otherness’: We treasure the otherness of each person as a mystery that is to be received;
- Charity: We share who we are and what we have with others includes receiving them as they are;
- ‘Kenosis’: We empty ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to move within us and to move us beyond ourselves;
- Generosity: We give of ourselves with wholeheartedness and in freedom;
- Sacred space: We recognise that where there is Love there is God, and so where there is encounter that is based on love, we are on holy ground.
C. Franciscan values:
- Charism: We believe that the spirit of encounter is part of our ‘Franciscan DNA’ - our nature, way of life, and point of departure for all that we do;
- Fraternity: We recognise that every human being is our brother and our sister, and every person is worthy of being listened to;
- Minority: We let go of our self-importance leads us to be available to listen to others and to accept them as they are;
- Poverty: We admit that we are poor and sinners, and that each of us is in need of conversion and in need of the other;
- ‘Sine Proprio’: We let go of our insecurities, fears, and biases and we are open to be transformed;
- Obedience: We attend to the needs of the other and giving of ourselves even at risk of personal cost;
- Hospitality: We embrace the other and to make a place for the other inside ourselves.
Contact
Br. John Wong, OFM: comgen@ofm.org
Br. Albert Marfil, OFM: https://nagasakipeaceproject.org/
Br. Alberto Joan Pari, OFM: https://magnificat.custodia.org/
Br. Eleuthere Baharanyi Makuta, OFM: https://www.istanbulofm.org/
Br. Lorenzo Raniero, OFM: https://isevenezia.it/it
Br. Stephane Delavelle, OFM: ofmmaroc@gmail.com