From 31 October to 3 November, the first in-person meeting of the Network of OP Biblical Scholars of the Americas took place at the Santo Domingo Convent in Bogotá, Colombia, with participation from brothers and sisters across the continent. They studied texts from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, and the Book of Isaiah, in a fraternal and synodal atmosphere.
The study of the Word of God was complemented by celebrations with the convent community and a workshop on Prayerful Reading of the Word with the Dominican family and friends of the Order. On Sunday morning, the participants dedicated time to organizing and planning the Network’s future activities. Sister Mila Díaz, OP, Brother Fabián Rico, OP, Brother Osvaldo Robles, OP, Sister Genoveva Sáenz, OP, and Sister Graciela Dibo, OP, were selected to lead the Network for the next two years. It was agreed to hold two virtual meetings annually—one for the team and another open to the public—alongside the biennial in-person meeting. The goal is to continue supporting each other in the Network, which aims to study, collaborate, share, and serve the Dominican family across the continent and the Church in the biblical field. The creation of the open chair “Antón de Montesino” was also announced.
The Network of OP Biblical Scholars extends its gratitude to CIDALC, CODALC, and the Province of San Luis Bertrán of Colombia for the support and financial assistance that made this meeting possible. The following participants attended the first face-to-face meeting: Sisters Mariana Zossi, OP and Graciela Dibo, OP (Argentina); Brother Osvaldo Robles, OP (Bolivia); Brother Germán Correa, OP, Brother Fabián Rico, OP, and Sister Ana Francisca Vergara, OP (Colombia); Sister Genoveva Sáenz, OP, Sister Mila Díaz, OP, and Brother William Vásquez Alarcón, OP (Peru); Brother Eduardo Romero, OP (Dominican Republic); and Brother Edgar Toledo Ledezma, OP (Paraguay), along with Brother Cristiano Behring, OP, Promoter of the Intellectual Life of CIDALC. The Socius of the Master of the Order for Latin America and the Caribbean, Brother Fernando Delgado Flórez, OP, greeted the participants via video, while the welcome was given by Brother Franklin Buitrago Rojas, OP, Prior Provincial of the Province of San Luis Bertrán (Colombia), and Brother Hernán Antonio Arciniegas Vega, OP, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology at the University of Santo Tomás.
