South America—UPF-Argentina’s 2021 “Interreligious Dialogue and Good Practices” series began on June 23, 2021, with a discussion featuring two interreligious dialogue boards from Buenos Aires City and Buenos Aires Province. The series was organized by the Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD) and Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) Argentina. The meeting, broadcast on UPF-Argentina’s YouTube channel (with more than 260 views) (1), was moderated by a representative of IAPD-Argentina, David Frol, high priest of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Inderveer Kaur, representative of the Sikh community in Argentina.
Liliana Escala, representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Susana Segovia, Minister of the Scientology Church, shared their experience at Ladies in Interreligious Dialogue. This is a group of women leaders from different faiths who began meeting in 2018 to learn about their different traditions and “from those religious differences and diversity, to recognize that we can work together and contribute to humanity with a better quality of life through our spiritual journeys.”
Cristina Mirabelli, from the Roman Catholic Community located in the Nuestra Señora de la Guardia Parish (Florida, Buenos Aires Province), represented the Dialogue and Coexistence Interreligious Group. This group from northern Buenos Aires Province has been meeting for more than 30 years: “We seek similarities, respecting differences in total freedom.” Susi Strauss, from the Jewish Community Lamroth Hakol, located on Florida, could not connect during the discussion due to technical issues.
The two groups shared a video review of their respective initiatives and activities, which allowed us to better understand their work and history. At the end of the discussion with Ladies in Interreligious Dialogue, a prayer and song were offered by Iya Adèwàlė Eugenia Calvi, a Yoruba traditional priest from the African religious association Ilé ti Oya-Ògún in Argentina.
To open the event, there was an international greeting by Simón Ferabolli, secretary general of UPF-South America. Other brief messages were given by representatives of the organizing entities: Carlos Varga, Director of UPF-Argentina, and Emanuel Sayavedra, President of YSP-Argentina. At the end, the moderators offered a brief summary of what was discussed by both interreligious dialogue boards.
The objective of this series is to “showcase dialogue and good practices which arise from the different interreligious boards across the country. To recognize the value of spirituality which provides a basis to develop good actions. To serve as a training ground for peaceful coexistence and common good.” Throughout the series, there will be discussions with interreligious boards of the different regional areas in which UPF-Argentina is organized.
On July 29, the second meeting of the 2021 “Interreligious Dialogue and Good Practices” Series will include religious representatives of the northeast, namely the Interreligious Board from the Province of Chaco. This will be followed by discussion boards in the center of the country, the northwest and Patagonia.
It is worth remembering that IAPD-Argentina, since its beginning in 2020, has centered its focus on the following central themes: “Religious Freedom,” “Interreligious Fraternity,” “Family and Common Good,” “Service and Peace Culture,” and “Peace with the Creation” (2).
Quotes:
1) Recording of the first meeting of the 2021 “Interreligious Dialogue and Good Practices” 23-6-2021:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bim9uHL8D74
2) Inaugural meeting of IAPD in Argentina 23-7-2020:
https://www.upf.org/363-language/9111-panel-interreligiosos-para-la-paz-y-el-desarrollo-sostenible