2914 Newly proessed Timor Leste
austraLasia #2914
A gift from Our Lady - ITM-Timor-Leste
FATUMACA: 10 September 2011 -- “Where is my
gift?”might sound like a cliché thought for one
celebrating ones birthday, yet something is likely missing
if gifts are absent at birthday celebrations. On 8
September, in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians
Fatumaca, Timor-Leste, the ITM Vice-Province rejoiced at
receiving a beautiful gift from the Virgin Mary on the
celebration of her birthday. Fr João Paulino
Aparicio, who represents the Rector Major, accepted 15 new
confreres into the Congregation. They are: Albino Babo,
Bernardo Menezes, Domingos Cristovão, Domingos da
Piedade, Eliseu Mendes, Fernando do Rego, Filipe Cardoso,
Fortunato Soares, Francisco de Araujo, Januario Texeira,
Martinho Savio, Miguel das Dores, Nicolau Hilario, Norberto
Pereira and Roberto Boavida. Out of these 15 newly
professed, 14 are clerical candidates and 1 a Salesian
Brother, namely Bro. Januario Texeira.
Fr. João Paulino Aparicio, the
Provincial of ITM, who had been their formator during the
Pre-Novitiate period, affirmed in his homily that vocation
is a mystery. It is an affair between the Mystery and a
person himself. Hence, some candidates might be deemed by
‘outsiders’ to be unworthy for the consecrated life.
However, if God wants them, then His call is ‘irresistible’.
After the joyful celebration of this
First Profession, all the newly professed were brought
straight to Dili, to the Post-Novitiate community. In the
evening, a simple welcoming program was held for these new
arrivals by the community. Their mind-boggling philosophical
activity will not begin just yet. However, a serious and
intense preparation in languages will take place right from
the day after their of arrival in the Post-Novitiate. From
then on they will always remember the words of Don Bosco:
“Only in heaven shall I take my rest.” Our wish for them is
that they be worthy young
Salesians, sons of Don
Bosco, .
