commissions

In order to enhance and to give the best support to our missionary involvements in the fields, we have several commissions or committees in the provincial level.

PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE ON FINANCE (PCF)

Fr. Michael Dulnuan ( Prov. Treasurer )
Fr. Werner Lesage
Fr. Mukengeshayi Matata
Fr. Willy Heijmans
Fr. Andre Broekaert
Fr. Antonius Harnoko

PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE ON INITIAL FORMATION ( PCIF )

Fr. Peter Baekelmans ( Intern-Director )
Fr. Konyi Kalamba
Fr. Gerardus Rekdak

JUSTICE, PEACE AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION ( JPIC )

Fr. Harrie Quaadvliet
Fr. Michael Dulnuan
Fr. Gerardus Rekdak
Fr. Rene Candelaria ( coordinator )
Fr. Garry Gestoveo
Bro. Blaise Mbuinga ( observer )

The three of us on the picture, (from left to right) Frs. Peter Baekelmans, Rene Candelaria, Harnoko Antonius, form a group that wants to stimulate the Inter-Religious Dialogue (IRD) among the members of our congregation, especially the ones working as priest in Japan. Peace among religions can be a great contribution to the peace in the world.
But this peace does not come by its own! We have to build relations of peace, mutual trust and cooperation with devotees of other religions. However, to understand the devotion of another religion, even if it is up to an extreme level, is an act of love for the 'religions' neighbor.
We hope to find ways in our parish work to make a contribution to the peace among religions. You are welcome to join, give ideas, or just pray for this little group of good will.....

Young and old strive for dialogue, each in their own way.
Fr. Jan van Bragt has been the director of the Institute for Religion and Culture at Nanzan University, where mostly Christian scholars try to understand, study and discuss Japanese culture and its religions. He himself has made important translations of the Kyoto School of Philosophy, and lives now in Kyoto where he teaches at a Buddhist university and goes on with translating difficult Buddhist philosophical works.

Fr. Peter Baekelmans has obtained his doctorate at Nanzan University. The theme of his study is the universality of sacraments, and for this he makes a research of not only Christian sacraments, but also of sacramental rites in other religions, especially of the Esoteric Buddhist sect of Shingon that has its main center in the mountains of Wakayama, the Buddhist village of Koyasan. His phenomenological study brought him to live and experience the Buddhist religion from very close by, taking part actively in their rituals and meditations.
Other persons in our Japan province who are taking part in their ways in the dialogue are Fr. Jan Swyngedouw, who is on good terms with Shinto-believers and teaches at their university in Ise, and Fr. Reimon Bachika who teaches sociology at the Buddhist University of Kyoto.