Ecumenical Is Not Enough.

Did you know that the Region of Brussels is home to more than 180 nationalities and 108 different languages? More than 55% of residents were not born Belgian. This mix of cultures, languages and religions undoubtedly enriches the Brussels community, but at the same time it presents a great challenge: how can we live together in peace, given so many different sensitivities?  It is sometimes said that, with its multicultural society, Brussels is a mirror of Europe. That’s why the efforts for peace and reconciliation in Brussels may be a symbol of efforts for peace and reconciliation in Europe.

This multiculturalism is also reflected in the public who come to our Chapel for Europe. In the last few years, apart from the civil servants of the European institutions, who remain the Chapel’s first target group, there are more and more inhabitants of the Brussels Region, often from a multicultural and multiconfessional background, who are interested in getting together to celebrate or to exchange perspectives on important religious and social issues.

Homes Of Presence and Encounter

In order to respond to this need, after many months of reflection and networking, the Chapel, together with “In Touch” – the partner organisation experienced in fostering dialogue among religions and cultures – and some other institutions, has created an interreligious network called HOPE (Homes Of Presence and Encounter). As the foundational charter puts it: “We think that pluralism in our multicultural and multiconvictional societies invites us to a spiritual evolution in order to live in harmony with each other. (...) We are convinced that all together we can contribute to a reconciled and fraternal humanity that promotes living together and peace. (...) We commit to promoting a culture of dialogue, to orienting our spiritual life and our transformative action in society towards the in-depth encounter with the other.”

This new interreligious network was launched within the framework of the World Interfaith Harmony Week at the beginning of February, with three mutually complementary events: a movie screening, an interreligious conference and an exhibition. 

When Spirit Meets Action.

The movie “Fierce Light. When Spirit Meets Action” was screened in the European Parliament. This film explores the stories of people of different spiritual traditions, who unite spirituality and action in their lives in order to cope with personal and global challenges, believing that “another world” is possible. The interreligious conference at the Chapel for Europe “Le dialogue, et s’il ouvrait au Sens ?” (“Dialogue, and if it opened to Meaning?”) was aimed at all those who want to reflect on the culture of interreligious dialogue, which is not easy at all. Finally, the travelling exhibition “Seeds of Hope” explored the common commitment to a world where it is good to live together, presenting images of human hands in various situations, accompanied by sacred texts and quotations from Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim spiritual sources.

HOPE Network has been created in the spirit of “initiating processes and not just occupying spaces” (Pope Francis). The Network is decentralised and its members form the nodes open for new connections. We started with 11 organisations of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist origin, which reflect well the multiculturality of Brussels. We have given ourselves one year to test our “getting together” in practice. After that year and after a joint evaluation, the network will be open for everyone interested to join (people, communities, associations, institutions...).

The Chapel for Europe remains Christian and ecumenical – but in Brussels, looking for unity in diversity, ecumenical is just not enough. Sooner or later you will find yourself in the interreligious or interconvictional milieu. And you will realise how people are longing for deep intercultural encounters.