Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) – The charism of Silsilah, the experience of Christian-Muslim dialogue initiated in the southern Philippines for over 25 years, is now in Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world. This is what Fides learns from missionary Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra, founder of "Silsilah," which promotes the culture of harmony and dialogue as the way to peace in the relations between Christianity and Islam.
The spirituality of dialogue has spread to many countries around the world and is now experiencing a breakthrough in Indonesia. 3 Indonesian priests recently visited “Harmony Village”, the community where Christians and Muslims live together on the outskirts of Zamboanga City, on Mindanao Island. The three priests were Fr. Benny Susetyo, Secretary of the Commission for Interreligious Relations, in the Bishops' Conference, Fr. Heru Prakosa, professor of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Sanata Darma, in Jogjakarta, and Fr. Evensius Dewantoro, professor of Islamic studies. The meeting was also held under the auspices of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences and has created opportunities for a fruitful dialogue and joint initiatives. The strong desire to start classes and experience of sharing life along the lines of "Silsilah in Indonesia was expressed. The charism of the "chain of harmony" - the etymological meaning of the term "Silsilah" - has indeed paid off in the Philippines, creating a peaceful and balanced relationship, marked by friendship and respect between different faith communities, helping to defuse tensions and to marginalize the fundamentalist unrest.
The Indonesian delegation has observed the spirit and community activities in Zamboanga, in the hope of being able to transfer the charism of "Silsilah" to the context of Indonesia and make it flourish, with the hope of raising awareness particularly among young people and working for dialogue in all areas of Indonesian society. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2010)
