The Silsilah Movement, which has promoted Muslim-Christian dialogue for more than 20 years, has invited Muslims to take part in celebrations in preparation of Christmas. Sharing religious experiences is the basis for communal reconciliation based on ‘respect and friendship.”

Zamboanga City (AsiaNews) – Christian leaders from the Mindanao-based Silsilah Dialogue Movement have invited Muslims to share the time of Advent, as they prepare for Christmas over the next few weeks, so as to reach communal  reconciliation and peace.

Founded and led by PIME’s Fr Sebastiano D'Ambra, the Silsilah Movement is made up of Christian and Muslim community leaders. For more than 20 years it has paid special attention to Ramadan. “Now, as a family and as a movement, we encourage a heightened awareness of Advent and its spirit,” Silsilah President Father D’Ambra said.

“During Ramadan, the Ummah commemorates the revelation of the Holy Qur’an as the ‘Word of God’,” he added. “During Advent Christians celebrate the coming of Jesus, ‘God among’.” Both are ways by which the community of Christian and Muslims faithful celebrate their “love and devotion for the one God” in a contest of mutual “respect and friendship.”

Sadly, for Fr Sebastiano D’Ambra the event has become “commercialised” and many in the Christian community do not understand the “true meaning of Advent and Christmas.”

Thus this invitation to Muslims also becomes a “challenge for Christians”, who are called to rediscover and “promote the true spirit of Advent,” which is one of “renewal.”

“For both Christians and Muslims Christ delivers a message of love and compassion for humanity by the one God/Allah.”

Today brought to a close the ‘Mindanao Week of Peace’. In this year’s theme ‘Integrity of Mind and Heart: A way to reconciliation and peace’, organisers reiterated the importance of this moment in time in the island’s history and its slow journey towards peace.

A “pure heart and mind” is the only way to reach peace, Father D’Ambra said. “We hope that the celebrations of every religion can become a time of dialogue and guide people towards integrity and respect for the various faiths,” he added.

(Santosh Digal collaborated on this article)

• philippines
• mindanao
• silsilah
• sebastiano
• d’ambra
• advent
• christmas
• ramadan
• sharing