Fr D'Ambra to receive the highest honour of the Philippine Church
A member of PIME, the missionary has promoted interfaith dialogue and peace between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao for 40 years. At the next session of the bishops’ assembly in July, he will receive the award named after Mgr Jorge Barlin, the first Philippine bishop.
Manila (AsiaNews) – The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has announced that it will bestow an award on Fr Sebastiano D'Ambra, a missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), for his efforts promoting peace and dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao, southern Philippines.
In the last meeting of the CBCP Permanent Council, on the introduction of its president, Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan and with the endorsement of the bishops of Mindanao, the CBCP decided to confer on the Italian missionary the Bishop Jorge Barlin Golden Cross Service Award, the highest honour of the Philippine Church, in recognition of his outstanding and generous service.
Fr D'Ambra, who is 82, has been ministering in Mindanao for more than 40 years. He was the first executive secretary of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue. He is also the founder of the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, the Emmaus Dialogue Community, and the Emmaus College of Theology.
Such experiences have enabled him to promote deep and lasting dialogue for peace between Christians and Muslims, exemplifying the ideals of the first Philippine bishop, Jorge Imperial Barlin (1905-1909), who was bishop of Nueva Caceres, Philippines.
In a note to Fr D'Ambra, Mgr Bernardo R. Pantin, Secretary General of the CBCP, writes: “As I extend my felicitations, I pray for your continued good health and success in fostering dialogue for peace between Christians and Muslims.”
D'Ambra will formally receive the award during the 128th Bishops' Plenary Assembly in July.
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06/05/2024 18:26
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