After meeting online in 2025, the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) Buddhist Studies and Dialogue Group met in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for the 2026 workshop from 27 to 30 August. JCAP President Fr Jun Viray SJ joined the gathering for the first time. Also attending for the first time were Fr Dilan Perera SJ, who succeeded Fr Aloysius Pieris SJ at the Tulana Research Center in Sri Lanka, and Vietnamese Fathers Francis Doan Cong Tinh SJ and Dominic Vu Chi Kien SJ. Non-Jesuits have continued participating in the workshop, including Fr Lo Dam MM from Japan, Theresa Kwon Yon-Dahm from Korea, Gerald Kong from Singapore, and Ven Vy Sovechea of Cambodia.
After meeting annually from 2010 until the pandemic, the group now alternates between an online meeting and a gathering in person. As is customary, the programme included time for personal sharing, specialised presentations by some members, and visits to local Buddhist communities. South Vietnam is unique for hosting both Mahayana and Theravada temples, and the group had the good fortune of visiting two Theravada temples with the invaluable assistance of Fr Bao Loc, who is the diocesan priest in charge of dialogue with Buddhism. Reflecting on the visits, several participants were touched by the Buddhist abbots’ messages on the universality of the Truth and the value of the human search for Truth by way of diverse religious paths.
There were two formal presentations, one on ecology in the Cambodian Buddhist context by Fr Kang Ingun SJ, and one on the thought of Masao Abe by Fr Wajira Nampet SJ.
At the closing Mass led by Fr Viray, the photos of former members who have passed away in recent years were displayed to honour and pray for them–Fathers Noel Sheth SJ, Francis Brito, Aloysius Pieris SJ, Tom Michel SJ, and Jerry Cusumano SJ.
Fr Paul Kriangyot Piyawanno SJ coordinated the preparations for the meeting with the assistance of Fr Anh Tranh SJ and the hospitality of the Jesuits in Vietnam.
