We started the 40th anniversary of Silsilah in 2024 by proposing the slogan “Dreaming Together.” Now, starting in 2025, we are invited to be guided by the message familiar to us: “Padayon” (Move on). The first reflection in the spirit of Padayon is a sign of gratitude to God for helping me and the Silsilah family move on “in the midst of division and conflict,” as we pray in the Harmony Prayer.
By chance, I found in my old files the reflection of the Silsilah Council for the year 2004, the year Silsilah recalled its 20th anniversary. The reflection’s title is ” SILSILAH: THE SPIRIT MOVES US ON.”
I think what we shared on that occasion is still the same as today and I decided to share here some points of the reflection of the 20th Anniversary of Silsilah.
The reflection says:
- The spirit of “PADAYON” is moving us on. We are experiencing many signs of God’s presence in the Movement. These encourage and challenge us to be more faithful, more committed and enthusiastic in living out the Silsilah vision in our life and in our work.
- It is important to remember that SILSILAH is a DIALOGUE MOVEMENT, although it is also an NGO, organization, institution, a group with different programs and initiatives guided by the SPIRITUALITY OF DIALOGUE to live and to share…
- That there is conflict in Mindanao is not the primary reason why we are in dialogue. The conflict in Mindanao and in the other parts of the world, including the difficulties encountered in promoting Muslim-Christian dialogue are challenges that strengthen our conviction. For us, dialogue, first and foremost, is a STYLE OF LIFE inspired by God. “Dialogue starts from God and brings us back to God.”
- Programs, activities and initiatives have to emanate from the hearts and minds of people who work not only as “professionals and experts” in dialogue and peace, but above all, people who witness to the spirit of dialogue as a way of life in bringing harmony to the world.
- Thus our skills, talents, qualifications, and other God-given gifts are only means and opportunities in serving and sharing what we believe and live. For this reason we can say that our commitment to dialogue is 24 HOURS A DAY! If we are privileged in seeing results of our efforts, it is because of God’s presence in us. God will continue to bless our work if we remain humble and united.
- In our vision we talk about ‘LIFE-IN-DIALOGUE’. This is not a form of dialogue, but a ‘STYLE OF LIFE’ that sustains all forms of dialogue in building Peace in society.
- Life-in-dialogue for us is part of our FAITH and becomes our SPIRITUALITY when we integrate it in our life. We call this SPIRITUALITY OF LIFE-IN-DIALOGUE…
- One crucial point of this reflection is on the concept of the CULTURE OF DIALOGUE, PATH TO PEACE. Many peace advocate groups talk about CULTURE OF PEACE. In the SILSILAH Dialogue Movement, we emphasize the CULTURE OF DIALOGUE. At the end, the two concepts or paradigms have the same goal, that is PEACE
- As a conclusion, when we talk about spirituality, it is not a way to ignore the real problems of the world, rather it is a way of getting more deeply involved in the struggle in the path to peace, and finding strength and sustenance from the God of our faith who is guiding the whole of humanity and our Movement.
Dear members of Silsilah and friends who are reading this reflection, I believe that what we shared 20 years ago is still valid today. The great challenge is how to “cry with our lives” from this message.
In our previous Oasis News, we have relaunched the Harmony Chain Initiative and the Harmony Prayer. I believe that the Harmony Prayer expresses the vision of dialogue and peace that we “dream in Silsilah”.
At the end of the year 2024, we published a book that is a collection of messages and reflections entitled DREAMING TOGETHER (see a copy on our website, www.silsilahdialogue.com)
Moving on in the spirit of Silsilah and starting the year of the HARMONY CHAIN INITIATIVE on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Harmony Prayer we encourage all the Silsilah members and friends who have been in contact with the Harmony Prayer and the Harmony Song to share their experience and restart with more determination to pray the HARMONY PRAYER and invite other friends and groups to join us in the HARMONY CHAIN INITIATIVE to move together. We will publish selected reflections coming from those who send them to us. See the website, www.harmonylink.info in the section of the HARMONY PRAYER in our sharing entitled: ” IN-TOUCH”
Let us continue to advocate a deeper dialogue and peace as an expression of the spiritual link among us as part of the same ” Human Fraternity” convinced that real and solid dialogue and peace in the world has to be done believing that: ” DIALOGUE STARTS FROM GOD AND BRINGS PEOPLE BACK TO GOD”.
Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME
Founder, Silsilah Dialogue Movement