The news "Oasis of Dialogue and Peace" is promoted by Silsilah Dialogue Movement, published every week in a local newspaper in Zamboanga City and envoys through the net to share our experiences in Dialogue and Peace!

3rd Week -October 19, 2011

Ultimate Sacrifice in the Service of God

When I received the news from Fr. Nebio Vigano,PIME, parish priest of the Lord’s Transfiguration Parish in Sinunuc, Zamboanga City, about the confirmation to what had happened to Fr.Fausto Tenorio, PIME, I had mixed feelings and can’t help but recall the past memories of similar incidents that had happened to the other priests – Fr. Salvatore Carzedda (1992), Fr.Tulio Favali (1985).Both were shot to death.

Fr. Fausto Tenorio, a 59-year old Italian priest of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), who for more than 30years had dedicated his life for fighting the rights of the indigenous people  in the locality, was shot to death with eight gunshots from a 9mm pistol early morning of October 17,2011 while on his way to his service vehicle heading for Kidapawan, North Cotabato by unidentified motorcycle-riding accomplice in the church compound of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish of Arakan Valley,North Cotabato where he is the parish priest.The said killing could have been related to his work in defending the rights of the indigenous people by helping them with their ownership of their ancestral land.

The act did to Fr. Fausto was inhuman and those who were behind the killing, lacks a deeper sense of understanding and sense of respect to the value of dignity of a human person and the value of the gift of life that comes from God alone.

FR. FAUSTO TENORIO, PIME

I wonder how heavy the weight or the reason for the priest to be punished in such a way. It is difficult to accept but this is a reality. The motif of those who were in one way or the other involved to put Fr. Tenorio to silence could remain to be a mystery for me. One thing that I felt is that I am convinced that he lived a good life as a Christian to the people in Arakan. Everything what God has given to him who to the point of giving his life for them – to follow the will of God and for the love of his mission to care for

humanity and as God’s steward of His creation. He must have experienced difficulties and challenges because of his weaknesses and limitations as a human being. But I believe that God in His mercy and compassion would let him live in His goodness and eternal fullness of life.

We extend our deepest sympathy to all members of the PIME Community for the loss of Fr. Fausto Tenorio,PIME and to his bereaved family that the grace of the Lord will strengthen their faith in God and hope in the resurrection.

Fr.Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME is a companion of Fr. Tenorio in the same congregation of Pontifical Institute of Foreign Mission (PIME). He is nowin Italy. May this occasion of reflection to what happened to Fr.Fausto Tenorio, PIME, will increase the unity and hope to work more than before and commit our life to the will of the source and fountain of dialogue and peace – God as the Path to Peace through dialogue with God, Self, Others and Creation in the society.