Successful WG3 meeting and Reflective Café in Rome: focus on religious diversity and migration

On the 27th of September, the COREnet WG3 met in the heart of Rome to have the annual in-person meeting. The day started with the welcome speech by word from Sr. Helen Alford, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum and the meeting with the Holy See representative – Yuriy Tykhovlis, Senior Regional Coordinator – Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Moreover, the second Reflective Café was successfully held, as part of the COST Action COREnet project. Organized at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Roma, Italy), also known as the Angelicum, by Dr. Olena Komisarenko. The event focused on identifying good practices and challenges encountered by professionals working with religiously diverse migrant communities, including those from Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa.

COREnet researchers, Dr. Olena Komisarenko (Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum), Dr. Anita Lunić (University of Split), and Dr. Duygu Altınoluk (Kilis 7 Aralık University), engaged with practitioners from local non-profit organizations who work with migrants from various religious backgrounds.

During the discussions, participants shared effective practices in their cultural setting and the challenges they face when working with religiously diverse migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Topics covered included various activities, service models, professional motivations, and the legal and societal frameworks that shape daily work in this field.

COREnet researchers are now analyzing focus group interview data from the event. In the coming months, key insights into best practices and the obstacles faced by professionals in this sector will be shared.

Further updates on future Reflective Cafés will follow soon.