[Conference] Hinduism & Catholicism: Building Bridges In Réunion Island

2 june 2025

On Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, a conference on interreligious dialogue between Hinduism and Catholicism will be held in Saint-Denis, Réunion Island. This morning of discussions is organized by the Interreligious Dialogue Group of Réunion (GDIR), in partnership with Domuni Universitas, Radio Arc en Ciel, Terre Banyan, and other actors. The event promotes mutual understanding, spiritual identity awareness, and peaceful coexistence of beliefs in a shared space.

A LOCALLY ROOTED INITIATIVE IN RÉUNION ISLAND'S HISTORY

Réunion Island, known for its cultural and spiritual diversity, has long been a site where religious traditions intersect. Hinduism and Catholicism have coexisted on the island since the 19th century, often in hybrid or parallel popular forms. This interfaith conference aims to revisit this history, examine its challenges, break down stereotypes, and explore contemporary forms of dialogue.

The event will take place at UCO, 46 boulevard Notre-Dame de la Trinité in Saint-Denis, starting with a welcome at 8:00 AM. It will feature six major presentations, with Q&A sessions, and a musical interlude by the Chorale Éphémère. The morning will conclude with a friendly reception, encouraging interreligious fraternity and community spirit.

DIVERSE SPEAKERS OFFERING MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

The event will be moderated by Dr. Patrick Monjou, a medieval historian and professor of history and geography at the University of La Réunion, as well as a mentor in the History Department at Domuni Universitas. His contribution will provide an academic framework and ensure a rigorous contextualization of the presentations.

Among the keynote speakers, Bishop Gilbert Aubry, emeritus bishop of Réunion, will open the dialogue by revisiting the origins of Hindu-Catholic relations on the island and highlighting the pioneering role of Father Arul Varaprasadam. Bishop Aubry, who served from 1975 to 2023, is a key figure in Réunion’s cultural and interreligious life, known for his contributions to poetry, and above all interreligious dialogue, notably through the creation of the GDIR. He will share his personal and institutional journey, shaped by attentive engagement with the island's diverse spiritual traditions.

Swami Adyayānanda Sarasvatī, head of the Ārsha Vidyā Āshram in Le Port, will present Hinduism from a philosophical and spiritual perspective, challenging the many stereotypes associated with it. His unique journey—from being born in mainland France into an atheist family, to studying Tamil and Sanskrit, and training in an ashram in Mumbai—makes him a living bridge between cultures. He will demonstrate how Hindu spirituality fosters self-discovery and inner transformation beyond clichés.

HISTORY, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND SPIRITUALITY IN DIALOGUE

The event will also include historical and anthropological insights. Dr. Céline Ramsamy-Giancone, a specialist in contemporary history, will explore the work of Jesuit missionary Charles Laroche (1813–1868), who served in 19th-century India before continuing his mission among Indian indentured laborers in Réunion. Her talk will reveal the early intercultural religious encounters between Hindus and Catholics—often overlooked in mainstream narratives.

Following this, Professor Prosper Ève, an expert in Mascarene Islands history, will analyze the conversion of Indian indentured laborers to Catholicism, often considered forced. Using statistical data and archival sources, he will shed light on the complex religious dynamics at play: adherence, syncretism, resistance, and personal or collective choices. This contribution aims to challenge misconceptions and address the intricacies of religious transmission in post-slavery contexts.

CROSSING IDENTITIES AND POPULAR PRACTICES

Daniel Minienpoullé, president of GDIR, vice-president of the Tamil Federation of Réunion, and head of the Kalikambal Hindu Temple, will discuss the tensions and enrichments in the coexistence of Hinduism and Catholicism, both individually and collectively. He will highlight the ambivalence of a memory sometimes marked by colonial and religious domination, but also the fertility of overlapping and shared rituals.

Another noteworthy contribution will be that of Father Stéphane Nicaise, Jesuit and anthropologist, who offers an original reading of religious practices in La Réunion through the lens of the local concept of “faire la prière” (to say one’s prayers). According to him, religious belonging does not fully define lived spirituality: it’s in the gestures, songs, offerings, and places of memory that a Creole religiosity emerges—embodied, vibrant, and often beyond institutional boundaries. His approach draws on field research and the intersection of faith and human sciences.

A LIVING MEMORY OF DIALOGUE

Finally, Dominican Brother Manuel Rivero, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Domuni Universitas and prison chaplain at Domenjod, will pay tribute to Bishop Pierre Claverie, murdered in 1996. This martyr of Christian-Muslim dialogue used to say he "needed the truth of others" to deepen his own faith. His story, both spiritual and political, is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for interreligious dialogue in today’s fractured world.

Fabrice Papa-Patsoumoudou, the event’s lead organizer and a doctoral student in theology at Domuni Universitas, will close the session by presenting key figures of Hindu-Catholic dialogue, starting with Henri Le Saux, a Benedictine monk who became Swami Abhishiktananda, a pioneer of spiritual inculturation in India. He will also honor the quiet but essential work of Father Arul Varaprasadam, a founding figure of dialogue in Réunion, recently deceased. As president of UROGEC and a committed figure in biblical education, Fabrice Papa embodies this dialogue at the crossroads of academia, pastoral ministry, and community engagement.

A PEACE-BUILDING EVENT

Thanks to the quality of its speakers, the diversity of perspectives, and the local relevance, this conference on interreligious dialogue stands out as a significant moment in Réunion’s spiritual and intellectual life. It offers a rare space for free expression, mutual listening, and shared recognition, in a society often tempted by identity-based isolation or oversimplified narratives.

By honoring memory, breaking down stereotypes, and connecting disciplines and lived experiences, the event promotes a long-term commitment to peace and pluralistic education. On an island where temples, churches, mosques, and pagodas coexist, it reaffirms that interfaith dialogue is not a luxury, but a social necessity—a way to build community in respect for differences and in the shared search for meaning.

→ Contact: Fabrice Papa-Patsoumoudou – +262 692 71 95 76 – fabrice.patsoumoudou@gmail.com