Inter-Religious Dialogue (IRD)
Inter-religious Dialogue (IRD)
Inter-religious dialogue, especially on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, is an important part of our mission. The population of these islands is overwhelmingly Muslim, while the local Church consists of a Christian minority, including migrants and government workers from the mainland.
There are currently four confreres working in these islands, including the bishop, Augustine Shao. Although they have general knowledge, none has specialized training in Islam. We recognize this gap and are grateful to the General Council for appointing a young confrere (2025) to the Diocese of Zanzibar who will be trained specifically in inter-religious dialogue.
Islam is also the predominant religion across the coastal region of Tanzania. There exists an ongoing “dialogue of life,” especially in areas like Bagamoyo, where our historical roots are found. Spiritan institutions in Bagamoyo employ many Muslims, and St. Joseph VTC has trained young people from surrounding villages regardless of religion.
A secondary school was established in Mlingotini ward, an area with a largely Muslim population. To serve the local community further, a small dispensary was also built there.
For many, inter-religious dialogue refers mainly to Islamo-Christian relations. However, it is also important to engage with other traditions, especially African Traditional Religion (ATR), which remains present even within our own communities.