ASIA/PHILIPPINES - “Chain of Harmony”: Silsilah Movement launches prayer initiative

Saturday, 1 June 2024 dialogue islam peace

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Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) - "In the forty years of the history of the Silsilah Movement, we can remember many events, some sad, others joyful, but they challenged us to move forward and keep going. One of these painful moments, which became an inspiring event in the history of the Silsilah Movement, was the year 2000, when Philippine President Joseph Estrada declared 'total war in Mindanao', after which Silsilah launched the 'Prayer of Harmony' initiative for the first time to promote peace in Mindanao and in the world. This tragic event became for us a commitment to spread the prayer of harmony from our island to the whole world", said Father Sebastiano D'Ambra, PIME, founder of the movement for Islamic-Christian dialogue "Silsilah" (which means "chain"), based in the city of Zamboanga, on the island of Mindanao. (Southern Philippines) recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. "In just a few years," says Father D'Ambra, "we have reached friends and groups in thirty-five countries around the world. In each of these countries we have been able to establish contact with people who have committed themselves to praying the Prayer of Harmony and also to singing the Harmony Song in many schools and groups, especially at interfaith meetings. In the Philippines, the Prayer of Harmony has been promoted by various social and ecclesiastical bodies such as the Council of Bishops and Ulama, the Philippine Bishops' Conference and the Office of the Presidential Advisor for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity."
The movement, launched in 1984, is today relaunching the "Chain of Harmony" initiative, which spiritually links Christian and Muslim groups around the world through a prayer that encourages believers to place themselves at the service of peace and fraternity. The prayer promotes the "spirituality of life in dialogue," lived in four dimensions: dialogue with God, dialogue with oneself, dialogue with one's neighbor and dialogue with creation.
"We can spread the prayer of harmony wherever we are, on all continents. We will have regular online events to connect with those who regularly pray the prayer for harmony, to share spiritual experiences. Our dream is that people or groups in different parts of the world and at different times of the day can pray the prayer of harmony in their own language, so that peace and harmony can flourish between peoples, cultures and religious communities throughout the world", concludes the missionary. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 1/6/2024)