The start of the holy season of Lent this year coincides with the beginning of the Islamic penitential observance of Ramadan on February 18, when Muslims, too, enter a season of prayer and fasting. Already, some of our shepherds are hailing it as a sign of God’s divine providence. Take for example Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), who sees this coincidence as an opportunity for solidarity and reflection within a diverse national religious landscape.
“This shared beginning is a grace. It invites us to slow down, return to God, and walk together in faith,” he said. According to the prelate, the shared date is a unique opportunity for a period of grace for interreligious dialogue; it represents a symbolic backdrop for ongoing peace building efforts in Mindanao, as in all of the Philippines, highlighting the shared values of dedication to life and devotion to the merciful God.
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