{"id":21479,"date":"2026-05-15T16:30:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omaec.org\/?p=21479"},"modified":"2026-05-15T17:35:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T16:35:07","slug":"conclusions-and-commitments-following-the-xvi-world-congress-of-omaec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omaec.org\/en\/conclusions-and-commitments-following-the-xvi-world-congress-of-omaec\/","title":{"rendered":"CONCLUSIONS AND COMMITMENTS FOLLOWING THE XVI WORLD CONGRESS OF OMAEC"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 16th World Congress of the OMAEC, \u201cUnited for Peace,\u201d Concludes Successfully in Santo Domingo \u2013 By Leonor Asilis*<\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n

From April 30 to May 3, 2016, the colonial city of Santo Domingo hosted the 16th World Congress of the World Organization of Catholic Alumni (OMAEC), under the theme \u201cUnited for Peace.\u201d This event brought together delegations from numerous countries in a space for reflection, intercontinental dialogue, and reaffirmation of commitment to the values \u200b\u200bof Catholic education.<\/p>\n

OMAEC is an international non-profit organization, founded in 1967, that unites federations, unions, and associations of alumni from Catholic educational institutions worldwide. Its mission is to work, from a Catholic perspective, for the integral formation of the person, promote a culture of peace, justice, and solidarity, and mobilize alumni as agents of social change. The organization actively collaborates with bodies such as UNESCO and the UN.<\/p>\n

Below is a summary of this important congress.<\/p>\n

The program took place primarily in emblematic locations in the Colonial City, such as the Aula Magna of the Dominican convent, and concluded at the Cathedral of Santo Domingo with the closing Mass. Click on the link below<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/143evmbNdAHwNrKSrQDYqmKqO2_UhNIsq\/view?usp=sharing<\/a><\/p>\n

Highlights included the opening speeches and the panel discussions on peace as a driver of social development, justice, faith in the contemporary world, and the ethical challenges of education today.<\/p>\n

Speakers included:
\n–<\/strong> Ms. Raquel Pe\u00f1a Rodr\u00edguez \u2013 Vice President of the Dominican Republic
\n– Bishop H\u00e9ctor Rafael Rodr\u00edguez Rodr\u00edguez, M.S.C. \u2013 Metropolitan Archbishop of Santiago de los Caballeros and President of the Dominican Episcopal Conference
\n– Mr. Alfonso Giraldo Saavedra \u2013 World President of OMAEC
\n– Mr. Guillermo Guti\u00e9rrez Piraquive \u2013 Secretary General of OMAEC
\n– Mr. Eugenio Mart\u00edn de Palma \u2013 Rector of the Catholic University of Santa Fe (Argentina)
\n– Mrs. Fabiola Herrera de Valdez \u2013 Volunteer Director of the Cathedral Museum
\n– Mrs. Mar\u00eda Isabel Pichardo de Valdez \u2013 OMAEC Correspondent in the Dominican Republic
\n– Mrs. Virginia Gonz\u00e1lez \u2013 Director of Communications for OMAEC
\n– Mr. Edouard Lotteau \u2013 Member of the COFAEC Committee (France)
\n– Mr. Jude Elie \u2013 Salesian alumnus from Haiti
\n– Fr. Jos\u00e9 Pastor Ram\u00edrez, SDB
\n– Fr. Jos\u00e9 Victoriano Mart\u00edn, SJ
\n– Brother Pedro Abad Moreno
\n– Fr. Jos\u00e9 Alberto Hidalgo and Milton Ray Guevara<\/p>\n

One of the A highlight of the gathering was the presentation and signing of the Manifesto of the XVI World Congress of the OMAEC \u2013 \u201cUnited for Peace,\u201d which summarizes the Congress\u2019s conclusions and reaffirms the alumni\u2019s commitment to more just, democratic, and inclusive societies.\u00a0In this document, the participants proclaim their conviction that \u201cwithout justice there is no peace\u201d and reaffirm that peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but rather the result of respect for human dignity, the rule of law, and social equity.<\/p>\n

They pledge to be agents of justice and peacebuilders in their professions, families, and communities, denouncing corruption, exclusion, and polarization. They also draw inspiration from the legacy of the various religious orders (Salesians, Marists, De La Salle Brothers, Jesuits, Dominicans, etc.) that cultivate individuals with critical thinking skills and Gospel values, capable of building bridges instead of walls.<\/p>\n

Finally, they commit to concrete actions:
\n– To demonstrate integrity in their work and in the public sphere.
\n– To educate new generations in the values \u200b\u200bof truth, solidarity, and service.
\n– To work together, within OMAEC, to address the challenges facing the region and the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeace is possible when justice is lived and taught from childhood,\u201d the Manifesto concludes. Click on the link below<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

ENG-MANIFESTO-XVI-WORLD-CONGRESS-OMAEC<\/a><\/p>\n

The closing Mass, filled with hope and strength, was presided over by the Coadjutor Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Monsignor Carlos Tom\u00e1s Morel Dipl\u00e1n, and broadcast on the Santo Domingo Cathedral’s YouTube channel. In his homily, Monsignor Morel emphasized that true peace is born from a personal encounter with Christ and called on the alumni to be \u201cbridges of reconciliation\u201d in a wounded world.<\/p>\n