Zamboanga (Fides Service) - Promote interreligious dialogue and offer assistance to poor families is the mission of Padayon Center in Zamboanga, in southern Mindanao, in the Philippines.
Padayon in the local language means ‘Take Heart’, an encouragement to go forward despite obstacles. The expression is linked to the life and activity of Italian MIME missionary Father Salvatore Carzedda, killed by Muslim extremists in Zamboanga in 1987.
The Padayon Center was opened in February 2003 by the Emmanuel Community a group of lay consecrated women whose rule of life is based on the Beatitudes. The Centre serves as a bridge between Christians and Muslims besides providing help for poor families in particularly difficult situations. The woman are all volunteers and the service is offered to anyone in need regardless of religion or ethnic origin.
Besides consecrated women at the Centre there are also young girls who come to share in the activity also to discern their vocation.
“Our dream is to build a zone of harmony so that this part of Zamboanga city, the poorest district, will be a place of dialogue, friendship and reciprocal service”, the workers at the Centre told Fides. Their service of building harmony and solidarity among Muslims and Christians is much appreciated. Padayon Centre is recognised by the Zamboanga Department for Social Work and Development.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/3/2004 lines 28 words 291)