ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Bishops recognize the commitment of the founder of the Shilsilah movement: "In the heart of every person there is always a corner of peace"

Cagayan de Oro (Agenzia Fides) - On July 7, in Cagayan de Oro, the highest award of the Philippine Episcopal Conference, the "Golden Cross of Bishop Jorge Barlin", will be awarded to Father Sebastiano D'Ambra, an Italian of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), founder of the "Silsilah" movement for Islamic-Christian dialogue in the south of the Philippines. According to a statement from the Bishops' Conference, the award is given for the "extraordinary and generous service" of the Italian priest to the Church, for having embodied "the ideals" of the first Philippine bishop.
The prestigious award is being given in the same year that also marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the "Silsilah" dialogue movement, founded in 1984. The Philippine Church is thus honoring the work of the missionary, who had already distinguished himself as a mediator between the rebel groups of the Moro National Liberation Front and the army during the decades-long conflict in the south of the Philippines.
"In 1983, I first proposed the Silsilah movement to a group of Muslims and Christians, and in 1984 we officially founded the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, which was soon recognized by the Bishops' Conference," reports Father D'Ambra. "This was followed in 1987 by the founding of the Emmaus Dialogue Movement, a lay movement with consecrated lay people and other Catholics, including priests, nuns, seminarians, married couples and young people," says the missionary.
In the 40 years of his dedicated work, Father D'ambra says he has tried "to implement the Second Vatican Council, through dialogue, which was then seen as part of the new paths of mission." "The Lord gave me the courage and strength to take this path," he says, underlining the joys and sufferings of a path marked by "prejudices and mistrust, some of which still exist today," even if today "there is greater interest in this mission in the Church among all," he notes. Among the painful moments, the missionary cites "the murder of one of my closest friends, Father Salvatore Carzedda (PIME), who was active with me in the Silsilah movement. At that time, the attackers wanted to kill me too. We also have other cases of Silsilah members who died violently. The path of peace also passes through episodes of violence, but we will continue with faith and hope. The path that the Church has taken in these years, with the attentive awareness of the synodal spirit, helps and supports us today, but it is a long road."
The Silsilah movement, says Father D'Ambra, "is now known at the national and international level as a promoter of programs of solidarity, education, care for the least and environmental protection, which we pursue as part of our vocation and mission. We promote the culture of 'dialogue as a path to peace' from the spirituality of living in dialogue. Dialogue has a spiritual foundation for us and through the newly founded Emmaus College of Theology we prepare young Christians and Muslims to live this spirit of dialogue".
"In the heart of every person there is always a corner of peace. And it is in this spirit that I continue my mission," he concludes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 6/7/2024)

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