Fr Matthew Lederle a model for inter-faith harmony:

Fr Lederle a model for inter-faith harmony: Bishop Dabre
- CAMIL PARKHE Monday, 9 June 2014 - 04:14 PM IST
Tags: Snehasadan Ashram, Pune, Fr Matthew Lederle, death anniverasry, tributes

Pune: Snehasadan Institute founder Fr Matthew Lederle, who worked for promoting inter-religious dialogue in the country, continues to be an inspiring model in the present social circumstances, said Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre here on Sunday. 

He was speaking at a function organised to pay tributes to the Snehasadan founder on the occasion of the Jesuit priest's 28th death anniversary. The function was organised by Pragat Padvidhar Sanghatana, an organisation of Christian graduates with which the German priest was closely associated.  

Bishop Dabre said that Fr Lederle had devoted his life to create harmony among members of various communities and this spirit needed to be promoted today, especially when attempts are made to create division and tension among members of different communities. 

Bishop Dabre said that he is proud that Fr Lederle was one of the three examiners appointed by the University of Pune who had reviewed his PhD thesis on Sant Tukaram. 

Bishop Dabre also released a souvenir on the life and work of Fr Lederle.  

Among those who recalled Fr Lederle's contribution in various fields included Fr Francis D'Souza, Socius of Pune Jesuit province, Louis Kadam, SS Waghmare, J D Adhav, S N Kamble and Dr Eknath Patole. 

Remembering Snehasadan founder Fr Lederle

Remembering Snehasadan founder Fr Lederle
- ST Correspondent Sakal Times Saturday, 7 June 2014 - 10:48 PM IST
Tags: Snehasadan Ashram, Pune, Fr Matthew Lederle, death anniverasry, tributes

Pune: Pragat Padavidhar Sanghatana (PPS) will organise a function in Camp on Sunday, June 8, to pay tributes to German Jesuit Fr Matthew Lederle, founder of Snehasadan Institute for the Study of Religion, on the occasion of his 28th death anniversary. 

The function will be attended by Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre and Pune Jesuit Provincial Fr Bhausaheb Sansare.  

Bishop Dabre will celebrate mass at St Xavier Church, Camp at 4 pm. It will be followed by a function at Fr Barco hall, near St Xavier Church. A souvenir on the life and works of Fr Lederle will also be released, said a statement issued by PPS leaders JD Adhav and Pratap Pandit. Fr Lederle, along with Fr Guy Deleury, a French Jesuit and Achyutrao Apte, a social worker and a founder of the Vidyarthi Sahayyak Samiti, had established Snehasadan Ashram, an institute for interreligious dialogue in 1969. 

After his arrival in India from Germany and ordination as a priest, Fr Lederle had chosen Pune for his work. He learnt the local language, started interacting with local people and started inter-religious dialogue to help people of various communities to appreciate and understand each other.