Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manila (Agenzia Fides) - It is one of the fruits of extensive work on dialogue, carried out by Christians and Muslims, motivated by good will: a Muslim-Christian Center near the Great Mosque of Quiapo in Manila was born today, during the holy month of Ramadan 2011, with its towering golden dome (it is called the Golden Mosque) in one of the commercial districts of the capital. The mosque is the main center of Islamic activities in Manila and is a benchmark for all Muslim Filipinos coming from the south, where there is a substantial minority of 6 million Muslims. Quiapo is also the district where the famous Church of the Nazarene is situated, with the statue of the black Infant Jesus that is the destination of pilgrimages from all over the country and towards which the faithful Filipinos are devoted. As reported to Fides, the initiative to establish a Center for dialogue was successful thanks to the efforts of Fr. Clemente Ignacio, parish priest of Quiapo, of the Catholic missionaries and other Muslim leaders who have made Quiapo area a place of dialogue and cooperation between Muslims and Christians.
The new Muslim-Christian Center will be managed by the Movement for dialogue "Silsilah", founded by PIME missionary Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra. The movement, has been active for over 25 years in southern Philippines and provide its long and deep experience in the field. It is the first time that such a center is hosted at a mosque, note the responsible of "Silsilah" and this generates new hope for the future. The Centre will operate for the formation of a "culture of dialogue as the way to peace" and will propose a spiritual approach to "sustainable" peace, that is really feasible for everyone. The Centre pro-dialogue will be officially inaugurated in the presence of civil and religious authorities, on 20 September. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/08/2011)
