By Novice Glenn Brian Justado

Don Bosco Formation Centre, Cebu, the Philippines, 2 December 2024 -- The 3rd Magisterial Lecture Series on Intercultural Dialogue, delivered by Fr. Joseph Kunle Ogundana, SDB, was successfully held at Don Bosco Formation Center on 30 November 2024. This highly anticipated event brought together participants from various religious congregations, catechists from different parishes, formators, educators, and students for a day filled with profound insights and meaningful engagement.

The program began with preliminaries, including an opening prayer led by the Novices, the national anthem, and welcoming remarks by the Vice-Rector and Pastoral Animator of DBFC, Fr. Vince Michael K. Sabal, SDB. In his address, he emphasized the significance of intercultural dialogue in fostering understanding and unity among people from diverse cultures. Novice Niño Roxas and Bearer Leona Villanueva, an extern student, served as the event’s emcees, guiding the program with energy and professionalism.

Fr. Kunle then took the stage to deliver his lecture on intercultural dialogue. At the start of his presentation, he stressed that the mere presence of people from different cultures and realities does not guarantee intercultural dialogue. He emphasized that such dialogue does not occur automatically but requires conscious effort from all individuals. This set the tone for his thought-provoking discussion. He also posed a key question to the audience: “are we really dialoguing or are we just simply co-existing?" This question challenged attendees to reflect on the depth and quality of their interactions with people from other cultures.

After the first part of the lecture, selected aspirants performed traditional Filipino songs such as Leron-Leron Sinta and Paru-Parong Bukid. This was followed by the Con Dio Novices, who serenaded the audience with Receive the Power, the theme song of the 2008 World Youth Day.

In the second part of the lecture, Fr. Kunle delved deeper into the complexities of globalization and its impact on intercultural dialogue. He highlighted both the opportunities and challenges presented by globalization, encouraging participants to foster openness, active listening, and mutual respect in their cross-cultural interactions. The session became even more engaging when the floor was opened for questions, allowing several participants to pose thoughtful inquiries that further enriched the discussion and deepened the insights shared during the lecture.

One of the event’s highlights was the official launch of Fr. Kunle’s book, Intercultural Dialogue: A Fundamental Element for Formation in Religious Life. After the lecture, participants proceeded to the Pilgrim Hall for the book signing, where they had the opportunity to purchase a copy and personally interact with the author.

This year’s Magisterial Lecture overflowed with insights about intercultural dialogue, equipping both religious and laypeople with essential knowledge on how to relate, connect, and engage in dialogue within their respective communities. Ultimately, this understanding fosters a deeper awareness of oneself and the diverse realities surrounding us. As Fr. Kunle writes in his book, “Dialogue is essential in understanding the self and the other. It is not a luxury for man but forms part of his nature and reality.”

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