Silsilah Spirit
Silsilah is a dialogue movement promoting deeper understanding and better relations between Muslims and Christians, and together, with people of other faiths and traditions.
The Silsilah Dialogue Movement was founded officially on May 9, 1984 in Zamboanga City by Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME born out of his experience of violence and war in the 1970’s while on his first Philippine mission in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte. His pastoral experience in this southern part of Mindanao placed him face to face with conflicts between Muslims and Christians. The conflicts were in reality political in origin, but the ensuing events of animosity, prejudices and biases which finally erupted to violence and open conflict deeply affected the Muslim-Christian relationship and soon identified as Muslim-Christian "war" by a stroke of political machination in Philippine history.
In 1983 Fr. D’Ambra, then newly elected regional superior of the PIME in the Philippines, started meeting regularly with some Muslim and Christian friends in Zamboanga City and formed the "Islamo-Christian Silsilah Dialogue Movement." A few years later the "Islamo-Christian" words were dropped to signify the openness of the movement to all religions, although special attention is given to Muslim and Christian dialogue.
SILSILAH is an Arabic word which literally means "chain" or "link". As used by the Muslim mystics, the Sufis, it describes a process of attaining an experience of the Divine.
The same root word is used as " genealogical tree" which implies a spiritual chain of humanity as created by the same God. Thus, "Silsilah" in the movement is an inspiring and key concept to describe Muslims, Christians, and people of other traditions and faiths moving together as one universal family towards a common vision and mission of dialogue and peace. It also reminds us of the spiritual link of dialogue that starts from God and brings people back to God.
SILSILAH as a call - Recognizing the uniqueness of each religion, people are called to undergo a process of spiritual growth by continuously discovering God’s dialogue with humanity. It is a call to live the spirituality of life-in-dialogue and to witness God’s presence in the plurality of cultures and religions as a habitat and an experience that leads to dialogue and peace.
VISION
In the name of God, the fountain and source of dialogue, Silsilah envisions a life-in-dialogue for all Muslims, Christians, and peoples of other living faiths in respect, trust and love for one another, and moving together towards a common experience of harmony solidarity and peace.
MISSION
As instruments of dialogue and peace, we, the members of Silsilah commit ourselves:
- To live the essence of our respective faiths and bear witness to the values of our
own religious traditions;
- To be in dialogue with all peoples, regardless of culture and faith, promoting a Culture of
- To be in dialogue with all peoples, regardless of culture and faith, promoting a Culture of
Dialogue with particular emphasis on spiritual values; and
- To be in solidarity with all peoples in the uplift of the less privileged, in the building
of a progressive, just humane and ecologically sound society.
Recognizing the uniqueness of each religion, people are called to undergo a process of spiritual growth by continuously discovering God’s dialogue with humanity. It is a call to live the spirituality of life-in-dialogue and to witness God’s presence in the plurality of cultures and religions as a habitat and an experience that leads to dialogue and peace.
- To be in dialogue with all peoples, regardless of culture and faith, promoting a Culture of
Recognizing the uniqueness of each religion, people are called to undergo a process of spiritual growth by continuously discovering God’s dialogue with humanity. It is a call to live the spirituality of life-in-dialogue and to witness God’s presence in the plurality of cultures and religions as a habitat and an experience that leads to dialogue and peace.
RENEWAL OF COMMITMENT – The movement encourages its members to renew their commitment by groups in the areas where they live, but once a year, usually in December, selected members, alumni, staff, friends and other members of Silsilah family are invited to a weekend of prayer and reflection at Harmony Village to be renewed in the spirit of the Silsilah vision- mission. The event culminates with a ritual of renewal of commitment for those participating, for renewed conviction and energy to live and work for dialogue and peace.
The Silsilah Forums are encouraged to duplicate the same Renewal of Commitment ritual in their respective areas using the same theme and material since it is not possible for all of them to come to Zamboanga City.