The Bombay Archdiocesan Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue was established in the year 1996 under the direction of Fr. Julian Saldanha, SJ, Professor of Missiology in St. Pius College, Goregaon. Fr. Julian pioneered a pastoral reflection on dialogue as a mission of the universal church, and its practical implications for the Archdiocese of Bombay. He was a real visionary exploring unchartered territory. Besides, successful building a rapport with the followers of various religions, he was also able to support organisations that were networking for social outreach of diverse natures.
It was in the year 2000 that Fr. (Dr.) S. M. Michael SVD, sociologist and missiologist, was appointed the Director of the Archdiocesan Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue. He ably continued the inter-religious activities that had been initiated by his predecessor, Fr. Julian.
As a result of this exposure of the Archdiocese to inter-religious relationships, dialogue as an integral part of the church's mission featured profoundly in the discussion of the Synod of the Archdiocese of Bombay 2001. It created a clear mandate for the ministry.
Recalling the words of Pope John Paul II at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 7th November 1999, the Synod proposed that "Dialogue is never an attempt too impose our views upon others, since such dialogue would become a form of spiritual and cultural domination. This does not mean we abandon our convictions. What it means is that, holding firmly to what we believe in, we listen respectfully to others, seeking to discern all that is good and holy, all that favours peace and cooperation." (Post Synodal Document, VIII B)
The implementation of this inter-religious mission was entrusted to the IRD commission. "The Archdiocesan Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue would seek to promote the theology and spirituality of inter-religious dialogue and suggest suitable occasions for inter-religious dialogue and celebrations (PSD 32.4)