This year’s East Asia Theological Encounter Programme (EATEP) will be held from August 1 to 24.  

EATEP is a Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific programme that adds to the theological formation of young Jesuits.  It focuses on Asia theology, inculturation of the Catholic faith and inter-religious dialogue, and includes an immersion experience in Buddhism.  It is held at the Seven Fountains Spirituality Centre in ChiangMai, Thailand.

“Our programme hopes to prepare these future Jesuit priests to adapt their presentation of the Catholic faith to the culture of the people they will serve within Asia’s multicultural and multi-religious context and in an era of interreligious dialogue and cooperation among Buddhists, Christians, Muslims and Hindus,” said EATEP director Fr John Shea SJ. 

The programme was first run in 2006, and to date 65 Jesuits in the theology stage of their formation have participated in it.  As in previous years, Fr Michael Amaladoss SJ of the DiNobili Institute in Chennai, India, will be the tutor/lecturer for the seminar portion.

EATEP is accredited by the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, the Philippines, which awards three credits for completing the programme.

For information on the programme, go to www.freewebs.com/johnjshea

For application details, contact Fr John Shea at johnjsheasj@gmail.com.

To read an article on EATEP 2012, click here.