On June 29, 2025, St. Patrick’s Church in Brampton hosted a meaningful and heartfelt event: the official launch of Basharat Bator Maklama, a new Urdu translation of Dialogue as Mission, a collection of talks, essays, and short articles by the beloved Dominican missionary Fr. Chrys McVey, OP.
The event was organized by the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office for Interreligious Dialogue in collaboration with the GTA’s Punjabi and Urdu-speaking communities. Around 100 participants, primarily from the Pakistani and Indian communities of Toronto and Brampton, gathered to celebrate this bridge between cultures and faiths.
Dialogue as Mission was edited by Fr. Prakash Anthony Lohale, OP, former Socius of the Master of the Order for Apostolic Life, and Fr. Kevin Toomey, OP, former Socius of the Master of the Order for the Asia-Pacific Region. Both were close friends and admirers of Fr. McVey, who spent 40 years serving as a missionary in Pakistan. Beyond his pastoral work, McVey was a renowned thinker, philosopher, Sufi, mentor, and a true pioneer of interreligious dialogue.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Mrs. Therein Danial, who invited Fr. Prakash Anthony Lohale to formally present the book to Fr. Jamshed Albert Gill, OP, the current Socius of the Master of the Order for the Asia-Pacific Region.
Dr. Alwin Murad, who translated the book into Urdu, introduced the new edition and offered a brief overview of its contents and significance in the South Asian spiritual and cultural context. Fr. Jamshed Albert Gill reflected on the profound insights and thought-provoking challenges in Fr. McVey’s writings, highlighting both his teachings and his deep commitment to fostering dialogue between faith traditions.
The event concluded with heartfelt words of appreciation for all those involved in making the launch a success—especially Fr. Prakash and the organizing committee—for their dedication to preserving and sharing the legacy of Fr. Chrys McVey.
