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Thanks to the sabbatical year
I'm enjoying, here I am, after visiting Athens and Plovdiv, in
another of our Near Eastern missions, Istanbul-Kadiköy.
In spite of the political
tensions perceptible in the country (above all, questions concerning
the Armenian genocide), the economic and social activity in Turkey
is surprising, especially for one who comes from a country like
France where there are crises of every order taking place.
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I was able to attend a
magnificent concert, no doubt a prelude to the 150th
anniversary of the Assumptionist Mission to the Near East
(1862-2012). It was a piano concert with more than 60 choir
members from different religions and nationalities, held in
our parish church of the Assumption. It focused on the theme
of the Magnificat with pieces by Vivaldi and Pergolesi. |
The church was filled by our
Muslim friends who were able to appreciate the spirit of welcome and
openness of Christians desirous of an interreligious dialogue by
means of art and culture.
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Both the
Assumptionists and the Oblate Sisters contributed to the
success of this evening.
This is what is new in
Istanbul.
Not grandiose declarations,
but concrete gestures such as this concert and language and
computer courses offered by Fr. Jules Nguru (A.A.) and
Sr. Fruges Mpiaka (O.A.), often attended by immigrants.
To be continued......
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Fr. Lucas Chauffart,
A.A. |
