ASIA/PHILIPPINES - The Philippine Youth Day to be held in Mindanao

Tuesday, 4 April 2017 youth   dialogue   formation   fraternity   peace   islam   local churches  

Zamboanga (Agenzia Fides) - The Philippine Youth Day, which will bring together young people from all the dioceses of the archipelago, will be held from November 6 to 10, 2017 in Zamboanga del Sur, a city in the far south of the island of Mindanao, a big island in the southern Philippines. As Fides learns, the national meeting returns to Mindanao after 11 years, the last one was held on the island in 2006 in Davao.
The registration of the youth of the various dioceses has just begun. "My hope is that the Youth Day brings and allows to meet young people from different places in order to become aware and to say to the Church and to the world how beautiful, precious and vital our youth is. Young people participate with the desire to know God better and become pilgrims to share with others the relationship with him", says the Archbishop of Zamboanga, Romolo De La Cruz in a note sent to Fides, welcoming the event with joy, organized by the Commission for the youth Ministry of the Episcopal Conference.
Mark Anthony Saavedra, coordinator of the Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, said that the local Church "is excited to host the event" that recalls the theme of World Youth Day 2017: "The Almighty has done great things for me and Holy is his name" (Luke 1:49). "We are preparing and we will give our best" he remarked.
The entire population will be sensitized. Zamboanga City is also known for its Hispanic culture, and is nicknamed the "Latin City" for the language that the local people speak "chabacano" which includes many words, and sounds and Spanish expressions.
The territory of Zamboanga is also known for the presence of a large Muslim minority and is the place where, among the initiatives of interreligious dialogue, there is "Harmony Village", expression of the "Silsilah" movement for Islamic-Christian dialogue, founded by PIME missionary Sebastiano d'Ambra. The wish expressed by the local Church is that the great Catholic youth event will also be a time of dialogue and fraternity with the Muslim youth. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 04/04/2017)


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