This Oasis news is an occasion for us to share this experience of the first ten weeks program that anyone can watch at https://www.facebook.com/watch/silsilahdialogue/642533866360032/. Meanwhile, those who applied to follow the course are invited, once a week, to deepen the presentation of the Episode of the week. We have many students who applied online from different parts of the country and Indonesia.
The discussion hosted by Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME, founder of Silsilah Dialogue Movement and Executive Secretary of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue is challenging for us in Silsilah, but also for those who participate and for our guests. The invited Muslim guests of the ten Episodes are:
- Episode 1- Ustadz Abdulla Ebrahim- Silsilah Madrasah Director
- Episode 2- Hja. Sarah Lukman Handang- Coordinator, Madrasah Education Program, Senior Educator Specialist, DepEd
- Episode 3-Imam Jay Jikiri- Silsilah Madrasah teacher & Marvin Alam- Silsilah Peace and Development Services Coordinator
- Episode 4-Hja. Zenaida Tan-Lim- President, Sarang Bangun Foundation, Vice-president, Silsilah Dialogue Movement
- Episode 5- Ustadz Garson Hamja- Lecturer, Silsilah Summer Course
- Episode 6- Fatima Allian-Coordinator, Human Services and Head of Women for Justice in the Bangsamoro
- Episode 7- Benhur Asid- University Librarian, Western Mindanao State University, Najiron Mohammad-Teacher, Maria Clara Lorenzo Lobregat National High School & Alexander Jikiri- OIC Chief, Bureau of Internal Revenue- Document Processing Division
- Episode 8- Prof. Alih Sakaluran Aiyub- Director General for Higher Education, MBHTE, BARMM
- Episode 9- Atty. Laisa Masuhud Alamia- Member of Parliament and Minority leader, BARMM
- Episode 10- Sheikh Abdulbakih Abubakar, Mufti, Region IX, Sulu and Palawan
As you can see from their names and responsibilities, we have involved Muslim leaders respected in society. One of the challenges that emerged from all the episodes is their commitment and their view. At this point, we also challenge those who follow the program and especially the students of the online program to share their reflections and deepening. We will be grateful to receive comments and reflections. Please send them to us via email at silsilahdialogue@gmail.com. We will treasure your reflections and insights with the idea to publish some after the proper coordination with those who will be submitting their reflection.
One thing that emerges always from the sharing, that we have received up to now is the positive comments of the guests of the ten episodes. This is a challenge to Muslims to deepen their faith more and live their faith day by day convinced that we belong to the same “Human Fraternity”.
For sure, this is also a great lesson for the Christians, for they will be challenged to have a new attitude in dealing with all, especially with the Muslims, in spite of the fact that there are still alarming news coming from Muslim areas like Jolo where recently 2 bombs killed and wounded many innocent people. We are still facing the reality of groups who claim to be Muslims, but they are in the category of “violent extremism”.
We encourage the students of our online course to send their reflections via email at silsilahdialogue@gmail.com. Others who wish to participate in the remaining ten episodes may contact us at silsilahdialogue@gmail.com . It will be a new experience of deepening and sharing of the “Living Faith” of the Christians.
Another challenge in the same direction of this program of the “Living Faith” is the collaborative effort of Silsilah and CBCP-ECID to collect “Stories of Change” of people who along the way of joyful and painful events of life have changed their relation with people of different faiths and journey with them in the spirit of dialogue and solidarity and also stories of people in this time of the COVID19 who are doing things that put them in the frontline, not only out of duty, but also out of love.