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INTENTION : |
That culture of dialogue, listening, and mutual respect may prevail among peoples.
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A favourite old evening prayer began "Enclose in your Sacred Heart all the members of this community."
June, the month of the Sacred Heart calls us to a culture of dialogue, listening and mutual respect in ways that were probably not imagined by the ones who prayed those words a hundred and seventy years ago. The community then was very self contained with next to no access to news of the world outside. There was no breaking news that flashed "Burma", "Syria", "Pakistan" or "Sudan" onto our TV screens and iPads.
As we watch and hear and experience news of traumatic events we know the suffering that deafness to dialogue and lack of respect and empathy bring to many people. In a small reflection centre called Metta Karuna ("Mercy and Loving Kindness" in Khmer) in Northeast Cambodia, people are encouraged to see the world through the eyes of the poor and the lense of many faiths. Kashmiri Hindus from India dialogue with Christians and Muslims from Pakistan in at first firey debates and then in increasing understanding. War-wounded people from South Sudan's new government meet landmine and cluster bomb survivors from Cambodia to exchange stories of grief and despair leading to a resilient hope.
People evicted from their land learn to represent their case in a respectful way that may bring justice. Women tell their stories and receive mutual encouragement. As ethnic and religious conflicts escalate in many parts of the world so does the need for a culture of listening and respect and mutual dialogue. Let each one of us be part of this so that the culture of Metta Karuna truly pervades among all peoples.
Sr. Denise Coghlan RSM
Country Director
Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia
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