Inter-faith group to undertake projects for religious harmony

MANILA, Philippines - An inter-faith group has started building five projects that aim to promote inter-religious harmony in Mindanao, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said Saturday night. The CBCP, in an article on its website, said the Silsilah Dialogue Movement will head the "Bridges of Friendship project of the Interfaith Council of Leaders" (IFCL). It said the five "Bridges of Friendship" that the IFCL will build include a Muslim prayer house, a Christian prayer house, assistance to Muslim and Christian orphans who lost one or both parents in situations of violence, assistance to repair or build houses for poor Muslim families, and help to repair or build houses for poor Christian families. SDM founder Fr. Sebastian D'Ambra said aone of these "bridges" will symbolize of the concern each faith community has for each other and for the poor in their respective communities. The Muslim and Christian prayer houses will be built within Harmony Village in Pitogo in Sinunuc, Zamboanga City, where Silsilah has its main office. D'Ambra said these projects are being undertaken in preparation for the 25th Anniversary of SDM on May 9, 2009. Harmony Village is a quiet green spot which provides vistas of the sea and the mountains. The Oasis Dialogue Center within the village is often the venue for retreats and similar activities for reflection, with Muslims and Christians as participants, either together or separately. A prayer house for Muslims and one for Christians will thus be a need when people make the effort to connect with the Divine while in the Village, said D'Ambra. He said the first two projects will be given priority. Each prayer house is estimated to cost P1.75 million. A fund raising committee made up members from both the Muslim and Christian communities has been created. - GMANews.TV