Loke ita neon hare ba futuro: Open your minds to the
future!
DILI-COmoro: 8th September 2007 -- Dili saw the last of
the animation visits for the 2002-8 six year period. Fittingly it
concluded with a Mass and dinner offered by the three DIli.Comoro
communities with representatives of the Salesian Family present from
Timor Leste: a total of 30 SDBs, 6 FMAs, 2 ADMA, 3 ASCs, 5 Past Pupils
attended. Perhpas the entire event was summed up by a slogan on
the mural in front of the Comoro compound: Loke ita neon hare ba
futuro, in Tetum, meaning 'Open your minds to the future'.
Unfortunately the Provincial, Fr Calleja, was unable to be there as he
is laid up in hospital for a checkup. He was represneted by the
Vice-provincial Fr Antonio Pinto.
The president of the Past Pupils in Timor Leste, Mr
Joao Cancio Freitas, was present. He has recently been apppointed
as Minister of Education in the new Government, and was able to share
with those present some of the features of his first month in
office. It was mainly good news for the 88 schools both large and
small entrusted to the Salesians in the country - an increased
education budget and subsidies for all schools. The current
parliament has no fewer than 10 past pupils in its ranks, amongst 65
deputies.
The Regional's view of things after a five day visit
was that there is a much more positive outlook for the country, which
has been through difficult times. Only the Viqueque region is
still troubled, and schools there have yet to return. Mind you,
there are still major problems with displaced persons. Three and
a half thousand remain in the Comoro compound. Amongst the better
news is the help constantly being received, including from some
Salesian visitors. Bro Michael Lynch from AUL, Fr Chris Riley,
also from Australia, Fr Julian Sleuyter from GIA - all offering
concrete examples of solidarity.
The Regional's visit focused on GC26 preparation and
the spirit of Da Mihi Animas. Given the fact that ITM has to be
one of the youngest and most vigorous vice provinces in the
Congregation vocationwise (170 confreres with 18 novices), the focus
was also on formation. The three basic stages of formation for those
candidates coming from Timor Leste are now gradually establishing
themselves in-country without the need to go outside. Los Palos has the
prenovitiate with 23 newcomers who started on 5th September; the
novitiate is at Fatumaca with 12 novices and a new novicemaster (Fr
Virgilio Da Costa, recently graduated in Spirituality from UPS); the
postnovitiate, named after Blessed Artemides Zatti at Dili-Comoro, with
4 formators and 8 students (5 candidates for priesthood and 3
Brothers). They are still located in the provincial house, but
construction has begun on their eventual lodgings nearby.
The outlook, then, is true to the wall's slogan - a
bright future if people look forward. October will see the ordination
of four new priests as well. _________________ AustraLasia is an
email
service
for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions
as an
agency for ANS based in
Rome.
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