by Mathias Hariyadi

The Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities was founded 23 years ago. For Muslim student, “differences never prevented us from being great friends."

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Y. Budi Widianarko, dean of Soegijapranata Catholic University, took part in a recent meeting of the Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU) in Indonesia.

Speaking about the event, Dr Widianarko said that he hoped that “the conference and unity experienced by students would strengthen the conviction that religious coexistence is possible.”

In fact, scores of students but also professors and administrators from Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand attended the conference.

The latter focused on ‘Catholic Higher Education and Religious inclusiveness’ with the aim of rediscovering "the true meaning of Catholic education" in culturally pluralistic societies so as to ensure the necessary understanding of various religions.

"In this part of the world, we have many examples of tolerance and religious inclusiveness as a living reality,” Widianarko added. “The role of Catholic education is to nurture continuously the coexistence between communities of different religions and beliefs."

Founded 23 years ago, the ASEACCU considers religious pluralism a strength rather than a weakness for the “building a better society”.

"Catholic universities should train their students and staff to become more mature in the “image of Christ,” said Mgr Ign. Suharyo, president of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia. “Once this is done, religious inclusiveness becomes one of its many fruits”.

Currently, ASEACCU includes 36 Filipino colleges and universities, including Xavier University, the oldest Catholic university in Mindanao, a region with a Muslim majority.

"I will never forget my experience here,” said Nor-Jamal G. Bantugan, a Muslim university student who attended the conference in Indonesia.

“I lived with a Buddhist family,” he added, “and had two Indonesians foster brothers, one whom wants to become a Dominican priest”.

Yet, “Our differences never prevented us from being great friends. We often celebrated our diversity and learnt from each other. I saw in them the human in me, and they saw in me the human in them."

In the Philippines, "my Catholic university taught me to be a better servant of God, recognise him in all things and seek his presence,” said Bantugan.

“I think that if Muslims were true Muslims and Catholics true Catholics, the world would be more peaceful and happy."

• asia
• catholic
• schools
• religious
• pluralism