MID in North America is one of several regional commissions that have been formed by Catholic monastic communities throughout the world to promote interreligious dialogue. The work of these commissions is coordinated by a General Secretariat established in 1994 by the Abbot Primate of the Benedictines acting in agreement with the Abbot General of the Cistercians. It is currently headed by Fr. William Skudlarek OSB of Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota. The Secretariat publishes an International Bulletin to report on the work of the regional commissions, to inform readers of other expressions of the dialogue of spiritual experience, and to make available official ecclesial documents dealing with interreligious dialogue. The international bulletin is edited by Fr. Pierre-François de Béthune. Starting with Number 75, our on-line Bulletin will call attention to the contents of the current International Bulletin and direct readers to both the print and on-line versions.
In order that the dialogue of monks and nuns be in explicit communion with the universal Church, the General Secretariat ensures contact with the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
More information on the composition and activities of the General Secretariat can be found at DIM/MID.
From left to right, Fr. William Skudlarek, OSB, Former Executive Director of the MID Board, Archbishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, Former President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and Fr. Mark Serna, OSB, Chairman of the Board and President of MID.You can read about how we began and the practice of interreligious dialogue, by visiting History and Philosophical Background. Our mission statement, and its background, is available at Mission.
You can see an overview of the projects that MID has been involved since 1977 by visiting Timeline and Achievements.
A list of our officers and their biographies is available at MID Officers.
The publications that have featured MID activities or been inspired by them are detailed at Publications.