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Silsilah FamilyIII. SILSILAH FAMILY The members of the Movement are Muslims, Christians, and people of other traditions and faiths who live and promote the Silsilah vision-mission. Individuals, families, groups, communities and those involved in the different programs, activities, and initiatives of the movement can be regular, associate, honorary members, volunteers or friends. Along the years other forms of membership, friendship and linkages have evolved and are encouraged by the movement. Personalized membership and friendship are now being implemented to strengthen and sustain members, friends and linkages in the movement. All are considered part of the Silsilah Family and friends of the movement. 1. INDIVIDUALS 1.1 REGULAR MEMBERS The regular members are those who are willing to undergo a period of formation for them to integrate the spirit of Silsilah. When they feel they are ready, they make a personalized commitment to live and promote the spirituality of life-in-dialogue, offer any voluntary service to the movement and work for dialogue and peace, according to their status in life and religion. 1.2 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS The associate members are those who appreciate the spirit of Silsilah and are willing to be part of the movement living and promoting the culture of dialogue path to peace in any way they can, according to their own vocation, status of life and religion. 1.3 FRIENDS The friends are those who appreciate Silsilah as a movement for dialogue and peace and are willing to share their friendship and any form of collaboration. They are not considered part of the movement, but as friends of the Silsilah family. 2. FAMILIES, GROUPS AND COMMUNITIES 2.1 REGULAR MEMBERS Families, groups and communities organized by Silsilah are considered part of the Silsilah Family as regular members even if some members of the families, groups or communities are not regular members. A. EMMAUS DIALOGUE COMMUNITY (EDC) Fr. D’Ambra knew in his heart that the Movement needs a group of committed people who will embrace the spirituality of life-in-dialogue as a way of life. On February 8, 1987, a group of Christian lay women expressed their desire to make more permanent their experience of life in dialogue as a community. The EDC was born and they decided to build a house situated in Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City, in the heart of a poor community surrounded by Muslim and Christian neighbors. After some time, its approval as a lay private association as governed by Canons 321 and 326 of the Revised Code of Canon Law and recognized as such was given by Archbishop of Zamboanga Carmelo D.F. Morelos. Charism: > They are Christian lay women called to remain single with the promise of celibacy, living the promises of baptism and guided by the "Beatitudes" of Jesus as a rule and commitment of life; > They dedicate their life for the mission of dialogue and peace through the Silsilah Dialogue Movement, bringing the spirit to different sectors of society as leaven among the people for the promotion of the Culture of Dialogue, Path to peace; > They undergo different stages of formation leading to a lifetime commitment; > As far as possible, they live in community. There are some exceptions due to family or individual needs. In these cases, arrangements are made with the community members.
The vibrancy and dynamism of this community shine through in its many programs and services : A-1. PADAYON CENTER - founded in February 8, 2003, it is the service arm of the EDC. It is situated in the same neighborhood. It provides basic services to poor areas in the city where Muslims and Christians live together. It also serves as a link to government and non-government resources in favor of children, youth, women, the sick and other disadvantaged groups. Padayon is a Visayan word of encouragement meaning to "move on." The following programs are offered: > Kindergarten and nursery schools > Feeding Program > Health Care > Production of Herbal Drinks and Natural Remedies > Formation of families/women > Children and Youth programs > Annual Blood Letting for the Philippine Red Cross > Other Social Services A -2. EMMAUS HOUSE OF SPIRITUALITY – On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the House of Spirituality was opened on May 20, 2007 as a service to Christians who wish to have a deeper spiritual journey, seeking to harmonize, contemplate and actualize the living out of the spirituality of life-in –dialogue. A spiritual director is available in the house who is ready to accompany anyone in this journey. This house takes care of the Christian formation of the Christian staff and members of the Movement. The complex has its own church dedicated to the Holy Family, hermitage for those who wish to experience deeper silence and solitude, and two dormitories for women and men. A-3. THE EMMAUS CIRCLE - This is an invitation to Christian women and men, married or single, individuals, couples or families who are attracted to the charism of the EDC to live the spirituality of life-in-dialogue inspired by the Road to Emmaus narrative in the Gospel of Luke (Lk. 24:13-35) and the Beatitudes taught by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount found in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt. 5:1-11). A-4. FORMATION FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS > Path to Happiness - an experience offered to young Christians in search for a meaningful vocation in life based on the Beatitudes. > Stay with Us - a group of young Christian men and women who are in the stage of identifying their life vocation and are willing to be accompanied in their journey for a period of one year or so. MUSLIM WOMEN FOR DIALOGUE AND PEACE (MUSLIMAH). This is counterpart group among the Muslim women of the Emmaus Dialogue Community. It is a new effort encouraged by Silsilah for Muslim women who are inspired to live the spirit of dialogue in the context of their Islamic faith and tradition. They go through a formation program and are challenged to contribute as Muslim women to the promotion of dialogue and peace in the movement, within their families, communities and society as a whole. They are encouraged to form small groups in their areas and to be in regular contact with the Silsilah family. C. ALUMNI - They are members and friends of Silsilah who have participated in any of the courses and training activities of Silsilah over the years and are encouraged to live and promote the spirit of dialogue as "pilgrims". They are also invited to be active in the Silsilah Forum. D. FOSTER PARENTS - They are Muslim and Christian families who live the spirit of the movement and welcome participants of Silsilah courses to their homes as part of the exposure experience of the participants. E. FAMILIES IN DIALOGUE – Foster parents and other families of different religions who wish to live the spirit of the movement are considered families in dialogue. The movement watches over them in a special way and they commit as family to spread the spirit dialogue and peace among neighbors and relatives.– Foster parents and other families of different religions who wish to live the spirit of the movement are considered families in dialogue. The movement watches over them in a special way and they commit as family to spread the spirit dialogue and peace among neighbors and relatives. 2.2 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Associate families, groups and communities are those who wish to be part of Silsilah but maintain their own identity and linkages with others groups or communities. FRIENDS, VOLUNTEERS AND LINKAGES
Families, groups and communities who are not part of Silsilah but wish to have some form of collaboration and partnership with the movement. They are friends, and linkages on local, national and international levels. The movement has a personalized approach for each one. The Movement, however, does not identify with any political, social or religious organizations but maintains and is open to collaboration with groups or organizations who share the same dream for peace and dialogue. They are members and friends of Silsilah who have participated in any of the courses and training activities of Silsilah over the years and are encouraged to live and promote the spirit of dialogue as "pilgrims". They are also invited to be active in the Silsilah Forum.
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