austraLasia #2168

Salesian missionary picks up honour in Timor-Leste

DILI: 6th June 2008 -- Tomorrow, 7th June, pioneer Salesian missionary Fr Rolando Fernandez will receive an honour from the Philippines Embassy in Dili for his outstanding positive contribution to building up East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, a nation which has just celebrated is 6th year of independence last May 20. Four other Filipinos will also receive honours after being selected by a board of consultors.
    Fr Rolando first started the mission in another nearby nation - at Araimiri in Papua New Guinea.  He arrived in PNG on June 14 1980 along with two other pioneers, Fr Valeriano Barbero and Bro Kramer (the latter now deceased).  Fr Rolando has fulfilled many roles over his years as a missionary, both in PNG and then in East Timor. He helps out now in social work, religious education and social communications, especially through the publication of religious books in Tetun, the national language of East Timor.  He presently resides at the Provincial House in Dili, near the post-novitiate community where his presence and creative, untiring Salesian missionary zeal inspires younger ITM Salesians.
    Incidentally, this item was well-spotted by Bro Ephrem Santos, glancing through the IslamOnline Network news! (http://www.islamonline.com). Methinks Ephrem probably deserves a citizen journalist award!
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Title: australasia 2168
Subject and key words: EAO Provinces ITM Salesian to be honoured
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2168