In the heart of every person is always a corner of peace

By Francesco Ricupero

Father Sebastiano D’Ambra’s effort to promote peace and dialogue between Christians and Muslims on the island of Mindanao is what prompted the Catholic Church in the Philippines to present this award to him.

Father Sebastiano D’Ambra, of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), is the Founder of the interreligious Silsilah Movement.

The “Bishop Jorge Barlin Golden Cross” award is dedicated to the memory of the first Filipino priest to be consecrated bishop in the Catholic Church (in 1906).

The award ceremony took place on 7 July, during the Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Father D’Ambra, 82, of Sicilian origin, recently received the “Don Santoro” award from the Diocese of Rome.

Father Sebastiano, who has been a missionary in the Philippines for over 40 years, told us about his evangelizing work in the Asian archipelago and the results the Silsilah Movement has succeeded in achieving.

Q: What was your first reaction to the news of the award?

I am pleased, especially because the Church in the Philippines has recognized not only what I have done but also the different aspects that developed from my work over the years. In my initial period on mission, I contributed to peace as a mediator between rebel groups and the military. It was a difficult period that came to an end thanks to peace negotiations even if, personally, I had problems with the military to the point that I was obliged to leave the Philippines in 1981.

During that time, I studied, deepening my knowledge of dialogue with Islam. When I returned to the Philippines in 1983, I proposed the Silsilah Movement (an Arabic word meaning “chain” or “link”) to Muslims and Christians and we began to work together in 1984.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines then recognized the “Emmaus Dialogue Movement” that I founded in 1987: a movement that includes consecrated lay people, married people, priests, nuns, seminarians, young people and recently also a bishop.

Q: Did you expect this recognition?

No, but I know that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines looks with interest at what we do. This is why they wanted to give me this award.

Q: How did you promote peace and dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao?

Much effort was required and many challenges had to be met from the very beginning. As a PIME missionary, I tried to implement the directives of the Second Vatican Council regarding dialogue that was then considered to be part of the “New Ways of Mission”.

When I started in Mindanao martial law was in effect, there was a lot of violence, hatred between Christians and Muslims. Every so often, to explain my work, I tell friends that I chose some of the most difficult aspects of the mission because the Lord gave me the courage and strength to follow that path. As for challenges, there are still many, even if much has changed since I started the Silsilah Movement and was appointed Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, a position I held until two years ago. I still contribute to it.

Q: Are you satisfied with the results obtained?

Over the years there have been many results, mixed with suffering and misunderstandings. At the beginning there was prejudice and suspicion, but now everyone takes more interest in the mission of the Church, even if in some sectors of society there is still resistance and suspicion.

Q: What is the situation in Mindanao?

It is complex. However, the government is trying to intervene in various ways, also with a peace agreement and an autonomous form [of administration] in some areas of the island with a Muslim majority. Furthermore, more than previously, Muslim groups are now divided and spread in different regions. Certainly the Synodal path of the Church is helping us; nevertheless, it is a long journey.

Q: What were the main obstacles to your mission?

In 1977 I started by serving some Christian communities in the mountains, then worked with a tribal group called Subanon, but because of the conflict in that area after two years I chose to work with the Muslims, living with them and acting as a mediator for peace.

Unfortunately, in 1981, my group was attacked; one member was killed, and I had to return to Italy. I went through many phases of the mission and I had to take some decisions. In this context I also worked for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, first with Bishop Fernando Robles Capalla, who asked me to help him in the Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, and later, when he was appointed Archbishop of Davao, I helped him as secretary of the Bishop-Ulama Forum Commission, which later became the Bishop-Ulama Conference. It was an interesting experience on the journey of interreligious dialogue, and one which partly influenced neighbouring nations such as Indonesia and Malaysia.

Q: Do you think that harmony could be strengthened in Mindanao in the future? What hazards might there be?

I think that dialogue will be reinforced in the future because the Philippine Church and the Universal Church in general are moving in this direction especially with the synodal path. At the same time I see that new difficulties are looming on the horizon of world peace. The path of peace passes through episodes of violence and I think that this will continue here too.

Q: Have you planned any initiatives?

As the Silsilah Movement we have planned several; one has been going on since 1987. This is the Summer Course for Muslims and Christians, which will soon be the 38th Summer Course. In these years we have had thousands of participants, many of whom now hold positions of responsibility in the Church and in society.

The Silsilah Movement is also known nationally for organizing other programmes of solidarity, training, attention to Filipinos abroad, to prison conditions, to safeguarding the environment, which we oversee as part of our mission and vocation to promote a culture of dialogue as a path to peace.

Our dialogue has a spiritual foundation that we have transferred to the Emmaus Movement, which is for Catholics who choose this vocation and mission. At Emmaus College of Theology, Major on Interreligious Dialogue, young Catholics study to obtain a solid formation and to become leaders in the Church as they live out the spirit of dialogue.

Q: Are you on good terms with the leaders of the Islamic Community?

Our relations with Muslims are good. They know that Silsilah is a movement for everyone even if it was started by a Catholic missionary. We cannot ignore the presence of terrorist groups here as in other parts of the world. Therefore, we are called to live in the present, and contribute to goodness and to peace in the spirit of universal brotherhood. There is still a long way to go.

Q: Could the Silsilah Movement serve as an example to other nations where there are strong tensions?

It would be good if the Movement could be an example for other nations. In Japan they are requesting that Silsilah be recognized by UNESCO. The journey of dialogue and peace that we have undertaken is motivated by the desire to share the love that God has placed in the heart of each one of us.

I maintain, because I experienced it among the rebels, that in the heart of every person there is always a corner of peace. It is in this spirit that I continue my mission.