Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.

Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., was born in 1959 in Hong Kong. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1984, and was ordained priest in 1994.

As an educator and a psychologist, he earned a Doctorate in Human Development and Psychology (Ed.D.) from Harvard University in 2006. He professed his final vows in 2007.

He served as an educator, school chaplain, board member and supervisor of the two Jesuit schools in Hong Kong, as well as a board member of other Jesuit schools in the Jesuit Chinese Province. His heart is always close to the education and youth ministry.

Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong in 2021, while he was serving as the Provincial Superior of the Jesuit Chinese Province (2018-2021).

He was created Cardinal in 2023, and was then appointed to the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. He was named as a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in 2024.

Abstract of the presentation: Education as a Path to Peace, Reconciliation and Resilience: The Role of Schools

What is education for? Is it for economic development and interests of the government or for formation of the person, which incorporates intellectual, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains? Formation takes place through schooling which should also be designed for “communal learning.” What should be covered in communal learning through experiences? An essential objective of schooling is for the formation of mutuality and peace-making. It is suggested that positive psychology and growth mindset are the two desirable approaches for the aforesaid formation. Finally, education is a sacred service for the respective schools. But, it should not mainly be about grades and achievements.

Venerable Sik Hin Hung

Venerable Sik Hin Hung was born in Hong Kong and attended La Salle Primary School during his early years. For his secondary education, he moved to Japan and graduated from the Canadian Academy in Kobe. In 1976, he earned a double major in International Business and Computer Science from the University of Oregon in the United States. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he joined his father’s business and worked in the financial sector. In 1990, he made a profound decision to dedicate his life to the study and promotion of Buddhist teachings and practices. He was ordained as a Mahayana Buddhist monk under the guidance of Grand Master Venerable Sheng Yi. In 1993, he pursued further studies in London, obtaining a Master’s degree in Religious Studies from SOAS, University of London.
Venerable Sik Hin Hung is one of the Founding Fellows of the Centre of Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong, where he served as Centre Director for nearly a decade. He currently holds the position of Senior Fellow at the Centre and is the Chairman of the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice of Buddhist Counselling. Additionally, he serves as the Managing Vice-President and Administrator-General of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association. For many years, he provided counselling services to staff members of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, offering support and guidance rooted in Buddhist principles.
Specializing in Buddhist counselling and meditation, Venerable Sik Hin Hung has played a pivotal role in making Buddhist teachings more accessible and relevant to contemporary society. His current research projects include Buddhist counselling, the neuroscience of meditation, and the study of Guangdong Yuqie Yankou. He has authored numerous books and journal articles on topics such as Buddhist counselling, psychotherapy, Buddhist teachings, and education. In 2024, he was awarded the Medal of Honour in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the community, particularly in advancing the research and development of Buddhist studies.

Buddhist Concept of Peace through Reconciliation and Resilience

The quest for peace—freedom from suffering—is a universal aspiration shared by all sentient beings. Yet, suffering persists. How can we reconcile with this reality and live harmoniously within it? In this talk, I will explore the Buddhist perspective on reconciliation and resilience as pathways to peace. Specifically, I will examine how the Buddha’s teachings guide us to reconcile with external causes of suffering—such as karma and the impermanent nature of existence—and internal causes, rooted in ignorance and attachment. This journey of reconciliation requires sustained effort, mindfulness, and resilience, often cultivated through practices like loving-kindness meditation. By embracing these qualities, we can transform suffering into a deeper understanding of inner peace and compassionate interconnectedness with others.

Rev. Fr. Peter Zhang Siqian, C.D.D.

Date of Birth: 20 December 1971 (China)
• Missionary in Singapore: Since 1996
• Religions Order: Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (CDD)
• Priesthood Ordination: 26 October 2003 (Holy Spirit Church, Singapore)

Educational background
• Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (1991-1996, China)
• Bachelor of Sacred Theology (1997-2002, Singapore)
• Licentiate and Doctorate in Moral Theology (2006-2011, Italy)

Current Service
• Vicar General, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore
• Supervisor of Archdiocesan Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism Centre of Singapore (AIRDECS)
• Lecturer at Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore (CTIS) and at St Francis Xavior Major Seminary
• Spiritual Director of the Catholic Spirituality Centre (CSC), Singapore

Abstract

This article presents a Catholic reflection on three foundational themes in the Old Testament—peace, reconciliation, and resilience—as essential elements of God's covenantal relationship with His people. Drawing from scriptural narratives and theological insights, Msgr. Peter Zhang highlights how peace (shalom) is more than the absence of conflict; it signifies a holistic harmony with God, others, and creation, and is both a divine gift and the fruit of obedience to God's will. Reconciliation is portrayed as the restoration of broken relationships, both vertically with God and horizontally among human beings, grounded in God's mercy. Resilience, in turn, is shown as the steadfast faith and hope maintained through trials and suffering, relying on God’s promises and strength rather than human effort alone. The article invites readers to live them out through faith, forgiveness, and trust in God's enduring love and guidance.

Dr. Thomas Cattoi

Thomas Cattoi is currently William and Barbara Moran Chair in Early Christian Theology and Interreligious Dialogue at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. between 2006 and 2024, he taught at the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. His research and teaching focus on the theology and spirituality of the early Christian East and on Buddhist-Christian dialogue, with particular attention to the Tibetan tradition. He has been co-editor of the journal Buddhist-Christian Studies since 2015, and in 2022 he coedited the Routledge Handbook of Buddhist-Christian Studies. His forthcoming monograph is Seeking Wisdom, Embracing Compassion: A Philokalic Commentary to Tsong kha pa’s Great Treatise (Brill, 2025).

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the passage in the Gospel of John 15, 1-4 where Jesus presents himself as the true vine and his disciples as the branches, who are invited to remain (menein) in his love. Recovering the Christological and cosmological vision of some church Fathers such as Athanasios of Alexandria and Maximos, the paper will outline the significance of this image for a Christian theology of peace and reconciliation. The paper will also invite a comparative reflection, recovering the Theravada origins of the notion of bodhisattva and the centrality of compassion in a Buddhist understanding of reconciliation. 

Venerable. Dr. Yon Seng Yeath

Venerable. Dr. Yon Seng Yeath has been appointed as a Rector of Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University since 2022. The institution is basically providing an educations for the monastic communities in the country as a whole.
Prior to his engagement in the academic world, he has actively engaged with Dhammayietra (Peace March Movement), founded by Ven. Maha Ghosananda in collaboration with the collective spirits of the Inter-Faiths based communities, working on peace, reconciliation, nonviolence, and post-war traumatized people in Cambodia since 1992.
He currently is serving as the Deputy-President of Monastic Secretariat of Cambodian Sangha Council. And, He was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Harvard University, USA, from 2016 to 2020, conducting a research on: Walking with a Saint: An Introduction to Maha Ghosananda.

Abstract

This abstract examines the transformative power of peace walks as a form of engaged Buddhism and nonviolent activism through the case study of Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda, the revered Cambodian monk known as the "Gandhi of Cambodia." His Dhammayietra ("Pilgrimage of Truth")—an annual peace march initiated in 1992—served as a spiritual and political intervention to heal a nation shattered by the Khmer Rouge genocide (1975–1979), which decimated Cambodia’s monastic community and cultural foundations.  

Ghosananda’s walks, often traversing landmine-ridden territories and former Khmer Rouge strongholds, embodied the Buddhist principles of metta (loving-kindness) and karuṇā (compassion), aiming to reconcile fractured communities. The marches combined ritual chanting, blessings, and grassroots dialogue to address trauma, deforestation, landmines, and political divisions . Key themes include:  
1. Healing Through Movement: The Dhammayietra symbolized a literal and metaphorical journey toward collective healing, with each step acting as a meditation on forgiveness. Ghosananda’s mantra—"Each step is a prayer"—reframed walking as a sacred act of presence amid suffering .  
2. Engaged Buddhism in Practice: The marches blurred monastic and lay participation, challenging traditional monastic isolation. Ghosananda insisted monks "enter the temples of human suffering," aligning with Thich Nhat Hanh’s concept of engaged Buddhism.  
3. Political and Spiritual Resistance: Despite criticism from conservative monks, the Dhammayietra confronted Cambodia’s postwar mindset on how Buddhism should respond to the fragiled society.  The 1997 walk through Khmer Rouge-held Pailin, where Ghosananda blessed former perpetrators, epitomized radical reconciliation.  

Ghosananda’s legacy underscores the potential of spiritually grounded activism to foster social cohesion. His approach—rooted in Gandhian nonviolence and Buddhist mindfulness—offers a model for post-conflict healing, emphasizing that peace is not a destination but a "step-by-step" process .  

Keywords: Engaged Buddhism, Dhammayietra, nonviolent resistance, post-genocide reconciliation, Cambodia.