Youth in Dialogue towards Peaceful Coexistence

"Youth in Dialogue towards Peaceful Coexistence"

by Marjorie Engcoy

Marjorie was a former Columban lay missionary assigned in Fiji Island and is now working as the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)-Mindanao Animator of the Columban Missionaries.

On Saturday, June 11, 2022, the Columban International Youth Encounter (CIYE) team facilitated its third session for the year with the theme, “Youth in Dialogue toward Peaceful Coexistence”. This was attended by young people from Britain, Peru, Fiji, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Myanmar. This was a particularly special encounter because we were graced by the presence of Buddhist monks and Muslim brothers in the conversation.

The participants were inspired to recall either their first or memorable encounter with a person from another faith. They tried to recall who initiated the conversation and whether they were satisfied with how they separated ways. Towards the end of the dialogue, the youths were asked to explore other ways to initiate and live out the spirit of peaceful coexistence, especially with fellows from another faith tradition.

Our present reality is afflicted with war and conflict, discrimination and misunderstanding, excessive negative prejudice against fellow human beings, abuse and misuse of power, and political wars. Because of this, we thought it was best to highlight the importance of peaceful coexistence 

in our communities. For the younger generation, this is a crucial call we cannot afford to miss. In the words of Pope Francis, “we have different cultures and religions, but we are brothers (and sisters), and we want to live in peace.” There is harmony in diversity. May we keep affirming it every day.

In the Spirit of Pentecost, we ended that beautiful session reciting the Harmony Prayer by the Silsilah Dialogue Movement with different sections translated into the different languages of the participants.

HARMONY PRAYER

O Lord, I cry for   peace,

Purify my eyes to see it

And my mind to understand

Purify my heart to love it

And my memory to work for peace,

That comes from your love and compassion.

[Verse]

O Lord, sustain my vision of peace,

following your inspiration,

And the many ways that you reveal

your presence and your love for all humanity,

With your constant style

in dialogue you care for all

[Refrain]

Make me, O Lord, live in dialogue with you,

And rediscover the meaning of life;

Moving in harmony with all of creation

Give me, O Lord, the courage to live in dialogue

In the midst of divisions and conflicts

And to build peace with all people

of sincere hearts who believe in your love

and compassion

Amen