On the morning of 28 June, Jeff Duaime presented a compelling reflection on Living Diversity and Interculturality, drawn from Chapter 7 of Bagamoyo. His presentation emphasized the urgent call to cultivate intercultural communities as a living expression of the Gospel in a divided and polarized world. Drawing on Pope Francis’ teachings and the Congregation’s evolving global experience, he highlighted how intentional formation, leadership training, and shared missionary engagement can transform diversity into a grace-filled witness of unity. This presentation invites Spiritans to embrace interculturality not as a challenge, but as a gift and responsibility.
In a world marked by polarization, nationalism, and cultural tension, the Congregation reaffirms its commitment to intercultural living as central to its identity and mission. Chapter 7 of the Bagamoyo II General Chapter recognizes that fostering intercultural communities is both a witness to the Gospel and a necessity in our international religious family. As Pope Francis reminds us in Fratelli Tutti, “we are called to build bridges, not walls,” embodying fraternity and solidarity in a world filled with division and wounded by hostility (FT 11).
Pope Francis, in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, warns against the resurgence of nationalistic and exclusionary ideologies. He urges the Church to be a builder of bridges rather than walls, encouraging people to offer their lives in solidarity for the salvation of all. In his 2023 message to the Spiritans, commemorating the 175th anniversary of the union between Libermann and Poullart des Places’ missionary groups, Pope Francis affirmed the Spiritan charism as a beacon of intercultural inclusion, urging the Congregation to remain courageous and inwardly free in its apostolic endeavours.
Bagamoyo II underscores that intercultural living is not an optional ideal—it is a vital expression of Spiritan spirituality. The General Council responded by making interculturality a foundational element of the Animation of the Congregational, recognizing that building communities rooted in mutual respect, Gospel values, and shared mission is both urgent and necessary.
Implementation: Fostering Intercultural Spiritan Communities
To give life to this commitment, the General Council has taken concrete actions:
- Leadership Formation: Through annual New Superiors Meetings and expanded webinars, Superiors and their Councils are trained in managing intercultural dynamics, conflict resolution, and inclusive governance (BG II #97–#98, #101).
- Pastoral Engagement: During visitations and Union meetings, Superiors are encouraged to remain attentive to the blessings and tensions of intercultural communities. In some instances, the GC has directly intervened to uphold unity (BG II #99).
- Future Focus: The theme of Phase 3 of the General Council Animation Plan (beginning October 2026) will centre on intercultural community living, offering materials and reflection tools for local implementation (BG II #100, #104).
- Diverse Councils: The General Council promotes the spirit of SRL 170.4 by encouraging diverse representation in leadership, reflecting the cultural and ministerial variety of the Congregation (BG II #102).
- Missionary Assignments: Intentional international appointments are reshaping the missionary landscape: over 74% of young confreres have served outside their home circumscriptions since 2021 (BG II #103).
- Formation Experiences: Financial and logistical support has allowed nearly 70% of Spiritans in formation to experience mission in another culture. Second-cycle formation communities are increasingly internationalized (BG II #105).
These initiatives signal more than a structural shift—they express a spiritual path of conversion and communal transformation.
Challenges on the Journey
Yet building intercultural communities is not without difficulty. As SRL 28.1 reminds us, fraternal community is a sign that unity in Christ is possible. However, real-life experience often reveals the depth of our human limitations: prejudices, communication breakdowns and, cultural misunderstandings remain common.
In Living Mission Interculturally, Tony Gittins asserts that mutual trust and an openness to inner conversion are essential. Every culture carries blind spots; religious life requires a continual emptying of self, modelled on Christ, to forge common ground.
Phase 3: Deepening the Journey of Encounter
Looking ahead, Phase 3 of the General Council Animation Plan will equip Spiritan communities to deepen their commitment to intercultural living. Drawing on well-tested resources, it will guide circumscriptions through processes of reflection and transformation. The vision is bold: to develop a spirituality of encounter, hospitality, accompaniment, and generosity rooted in the Gospel and animated by the Spirit (BG II #100).
Inspired by the synodal approach encouraged by Pope Francis, the plan will promote listening, dialogue, and discernment across cultural lines. As John Fogarty noted in 2016, goodwill alone is not enough. Deliberate formation, dialogue, and skill-building are required to create what he calls a “new Spiritan culture”—a space where every member feels seen, heard, and at home.
Through this phase, the General Council hopes to strengthen the Spiritan witness to universal fraternity, echoing Fratelli Tutti in spirit and action. Interculturality will no longer be seen as a challenge to be managed but as a gift to be embraced.
