The meeting commenced with a sacred opening and a tribute to the late T.D.Singh, a beloved friend and college from Mayapur , India . Each one then shared the victories and challenges of their URI work during the past year.

During the three days together, the staff explored some key questions - what is working well? What must URI improve? What is needed? Ways of enhancing communications, creating work plans, filing financial reports etc were discussed. There were beautiful exchanges of personal experiences, challenges and hopes during the group sessions. Plans were envisioned for the regional growth over the next five years to make URI purpose vitally alive all over the world.

Bishop William Swing, the President of URI provided an overview of his vision to build URI’s financial capacity to fulfill URI’s Purpose around the world. He outlined his campaign to raise a major endowment fund to provide a reliable base of funding. Both the Staff and Global Council had separate opportunities to have conversations with him to share /clarify any concerns and offer appreciation and support for his vision and dedication.

After the closing reflections on June 8, the Staff traveled to Brussels and paid a courtesy visit to the European Commission headquarters where we were received by the Minister of EC in charge of culture, youth and interfaith dialogue shared about their commitment interrelations dialogue for European integration. He was appreciative of the work of the URI.

Our next stop was the Grand Place of Brussels to the Mayor’s office where we were honored at a reception by the Mayor, also a staunch promoter of inter religious dialogue for harmony among the people in the city. The evening ended with a sumptuous dinner at the penthouse of EEC leader Jean Mathieu Lochtea.