One of the dialogues of the Lord is “Partners of Dialogue”. The dialogue of partners is a very
special dialogue that talks about not just the improvement of yourself but also the improvement of the
people around you. As it was said, “It would be a better place if we could knock down the wall that
separates us people from one another”. Every society has different kinds of people with different kinds of
cultures, traditions, religious beliefs, and secular ideologies. “Nemo dat quod non habet” - one cannot
give what one does not possess. So, before engaging in dialoguing with others, one must be immersed in
the Word. Only then is the individual ready to communicate the Word with others? It is only then that he
or she exhibits God's love and shares one's conviction clearly and honestly, especially where that love has
been disguised by prejudice, violence, and hate. Because it is critical that a Catholic who engages in
dialogue with others first understands the fundamentals of his or her faith. The SVD identified that there
are 4 dialogue partners; People who are poor and marginalized, faith-seekers or people who have no faith
communities, people of different cultures, and people of different faith traditions and secular ideologies.
People who are poor and marginalized. This dedication to the disadvantaged is founded on Jesus’
purpose to convey God's love to the impoverished and downtrodden. Jesus began His public life in the
synagogue of Nazareth, identifying Himself as a speaker of the good news to the poor as it is said in Luke
4:18 “The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor”.
Active Involvement of the Poor Today. The poor and marginalized in the Philippines today include those
who are economically poor, powerless, oppressed, exploited, and voiceless. They are those who lack the
necessities for a dignified life; those who are subjected to the dehumanizing and abject conditions of
extreme poverty. The Church's social teaching consistently teaches that governments should assist the
poor in such a way that they become more than passive recipients of charitable acts, but active
participants in finding solutions to their problems. Because they have intimate experience with poverty,
Pope John Paul II frequently highlights their active participation. The human being, by nature, yearns for
something more profound than what the world has to offer. The SVDs identify faith seekers as those who
are still dealing with their search for meaning and their hearts' longings. They are persons who have never
belonged to a faith group, are estranged from the church, and are looking for guidance outside of faith
tradition. A person is on an endless quest for meaning, which leads him/her to deeper truths and
meanings, to God as the Meaning of all meanings. He/she also satisfy himself/herself with what the world
has to offer, such as pleasure, possessions, power, and position, until the need for something or Someone
greater than oneself is realized, and faith is accepted. As St. Augustine’s realization: “O God our hearts are
restless until they rest in you.” Faith seekers require moral assistance and must be handled with kindness
throughout their lives. Faith seekers might find their way home, into their inner selves, based on the
concept that people are decent and caring. So, without criticizing them, listening to their stories in
dialogue is a huge act of compassion. People with different cultures, participating in this mission of
proclaiming the Word is imperative on the part of every Christian. Every Christian is a missionary. Acts
13: 15-41 “The Church’s mission is characterized by universality in the light of the missionary activities of
Paul. In a way, Paul showed high regard for the diversity of God’s people. He animated the Jews in the
synagogue to participate in the mission”. God's children live and recognize the Divine in a variety of ways.
Dialoguing with people from diverse cultures entails making friends in a humble mood. One culture should
not be thought to be superior to others. Culture is defined as "the living essence of a people's experiences
carried from generation to generation." Living in dialogue with people from diverse cultures takes a long
time. It may take a lifetime. Cultivating loving relationships with people from various cultures entails
learning from them and welcoming the opportunity to be enhanced by our acts of listening to and
conversing with them. In the postmodern world, there is a presence of cultural and religious pluralism.
Today, the Church is being pushed to become more actively involved in the activities of the world
and to be concerned with people from all walks of life. Participation in this setting implies respect for the
promotion of human dignity and value. To confront this challenge, the Church must rediscover its mission
as a church. She must go beyond her public statement and catechesis mandate. Ecumenism and Interfaith
Dialogue Given the numerous acts of war and violence committed in the name of religion, the third type
of dialogue is becoming increasingly important. Ecumenism is the process of dialogue between world
Christian churches, such as Catholics and Protestants. Its fundamental goal is to promote unity, peace,
and love. The inter-faith conversation is the practice of fostering common ideals among people of
different faith traditions, such as Christians, Muslims, and Buddhists. So as Church members, our goal is
to be liberated from the constraints of the confines of our religion and possess profound intellectual and
spiritual humility. Being a part of God's mission. No amount of human effort can win the hearts of those
of different faiths or those who have accepted secular beliefs. It is necessary to acknowledge that human
endeavors would be futile without God.
Dialogue Partnership genuineness in discussion is constantly geared toward a theological mode
of partnership, which necessitates cooperation and participation. Religion and culture's claims to
supremacy should be rejected. Respect for individuals is based on the notion that the other religions' ways
of life, doctrines, moral precepts and sacred rites include rays of truth that have educated humanity and,
so, deserve great esteem.