THE SALESIANS IN TIMOR LESTE
The Salesians first set foot in East Timor in the Year 1927. One of the pioneers was
St. Callistus Caravario. They settled in Dili, and after two years had to leave. The
Salesians came back in 1946, when the Portuguese government asked the
Congregation to open a technical school in Dili. Over the next twenty years, other
communities like Fuiloro (1946), Baucau (1962) and Fatumaca (1965) were
founded. At that time, the Congregation in Timor was dependent on Portugal, and
was considered a mission territory. Once the Portuguese withdrew from Timor in
1975, the Salesians became dependent on the Philippine Province, which provided
human resources and the opportunity for Salesians from Timor to receive
formation in that province. By 1998, in Timor Leste became a Vice Province.
Today, in addition to providing initial formation for candidates to Salesian life, the
Congregation is engaged in parishes, schools, boarding houses, orphanages, youth
centers, oratories and social works. They are also involved in non-Salesian settings
like the Diocesan Major Seminary, the curia of the Diocese and its commissions.
The Communities in Timor Leste include: Los Palos, Laga, Quelicai, Fuiloro,
Baucau, Venilale, Fatumaca; As well as the Provincial House, the Postnovitiate and
the CENTEC (Centro Technico) in Dili.
THE SALESIAN DELEGATION OF INDONESIA
The first Salesian presence in Indonesia was established in December
1985, about three months after the arrival of the first missionary (Fr.Jose
Carbonell, accompanied by Fr. Lazaro Revilla) on September 17, 1985.
It was marked with the creation of the Salesian Delegation of Indonesia
with its office was in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. It belonged to the
Salesian Province of the Philippines, then became part of the Philippine
South Province (FIS) after the division of the North and South
provinces. In 1998 the Salesian Vice Province of Indonesia Timor (ITM)
was established and the missions in Indonesia were entrusted to the ITM
Vice Province until the year 2010. Today after 28 years of hard work
there are 6 Salesian communities and 2 parishes spread over 6
Indonesian provinces (a.Wisma Salesian Don Bosco Postnovitiate,
Sunter Jaya, Jakarta, b. Parish of St. John Bosco, Danau Sunter, Jakarta,
c.Don Bosco Training Center, Tigaraksa, Tangerang (w/Prenovitiate), d.
St. Michael Parish, Surabaya, e. Community of St. Joseph, Blitar,
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