In the mid 1990’s, the Youth Ministers of the DaDiTaMa sub-region planned to hold the first DaDiTaMa Youth Congress. Unfortunately, it did not materialized due to a change of leadership in the sub region.

Seeing the importance of gathering the young people of DaDiTaMa, a convention (instead of a congress) was recently approved by the Directors, Coordinators, and Youth Leaders of the four dioceses comprising DaDiTama.

Last 28 June 2007 outgoing Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Fernando Filoni informed Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Monsignor Julius S. Tonel as the new bishop-prelate of Ipil in Zamboanga-Sibugay province.

Bishop-elect Tonel is concurrently the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Davao and parish priest of San Pablo Parish in Matina, Davao City. He is the second Davao-born diocesan priest to become bishop. The first was Bishop Guillermo Afable, no bishop of the Diocese of Digos.

THE HUMAN PERSON, THE HEART OF PEACE

1. At the beginning of the new year, I wish to extend prayerful good wishes for peace to Governments, leaders of nations and all men and women of good will. In a special way, I invoke peace upon all those experiencing pain and suffering, those living under the threat of violence and armed aggression, and those who await their human and social emancipation, having had their dignity trampled upon. I invoke peace upon children, who by their innocence enrich humanity with goodness and hope, and by their sufferings compel us all to work for justice and peace. Out of concern for children, especially those whose future is compromised by exploitation and the malice of unscrupulous adults, I wish on this World Day of Peace to encourage everyone to reflect on the theme: The Human Person, the Heart of Peace. I am convinced that respect for the person promotes peace and that, in building peace, the foundations are laid for an authentic integral humanism. In this way a serene future is prepared for coming generations.