ASIA/PHILIPPINES - The Village of Harmony has been giving an example of "life-in-dialogue" in southern Philippines for 25 years

Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) - The Village of Harmony has been giving an example of "life-in-dialogue" for 25 years in southern Philippines. It was founded in 1990 by a group of Christians and Muslims who, some years before, in southern Philippines, gave birth to "Silsilah", the movement for Islamic-Christian dialogue. Fr. Sebastiano D'Ambra, PIME is among the initiators who, in a note sent to Fides, recalls that it was "a dream: to have a special place to accommodate, in a common house, Christians and Muslims, eager to start a life in dialogue". The project took shape thanks to the generosity of Mr. Emilio Enriquez, who donated the land where the Village of Harmony sprung up.
Father D'Ambra recalled that when in 1992 Fr. Salvatore Carzedda, PIME missionary, was killed, the project stopped for a while and the construction began again in 1996".
"Today we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this place as a common home for harmony. Thousands of people from different cultures and religions have been formed in this place, thanks to summer courses and formation seminars promoted by the movement. All of us are responsible of making this area a special place for dialogue and peace".
The spirituality of "Silsilah" is based on four lines of dialogue: with oneself, with God, with creation, with one’s neighbor. "Many begin to desire villages like this. Today there exists 'forum Silsilah' in cities like Antipolo, Manila, in many places in Mindanao. We hope and pray that the testimony of the Village of Harmony, where Christians and Muslims live together peacefully, can flourish and bear fruit in great quantity". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/05/2015)