A Filipino missionary, he has been promoting interreligious dialogue and peace between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao for 40 years. During the next session of the Episcopal Conference, in July, he will receive the award named after Bishop Jorge Barlin, the first Filipino bishop.
Manila () – The Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has announced that it will award an award to Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME missionary, for his efforts in promoting peace and dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Mindanao, south of the Philippines.
During the last meeting of the Permanent Council of the CBCP – at the proposal of its president, Bishop of Kalookan Pablo Virgilio David, and with the approval of the bishops of Mindanao – the organization decided to grant the Italian missionary the “Award for the Service of the Bishop Jorge Barlin’s Golden Cross”, the highest honor of the Philippine Church, in recognition of his outstanding and generous service.
P. D’Ambra, who is 82 years old and has been ministering in Mindanao for more than forty years, was the first executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the Philippine Church. He is the founder of Silsilah Dialogue Movementthe Emmaus Dialogue Community and the Emmaus Theology College, experiences that have promoted a deep and lasting dialogue for peace between Christians and Muslims, thus exemplifying the ideals of the first Filipino bishop Jorge Imperial Barlin (1905-1909), who was bishop of Nueva Cáceres (Philippines).
In a note addressed to Father D’Ambra, Bishop Bernardo R. Pantin, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, wrote: “I congratulate you and pray for your good health and your success in promoting dialogue for peace between Christians and Muslims”.
D’Ambra will formally receive the award during the 128th plenary assembly of the bishops in July.
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