ROME:  15th June '04 -- The Regional Superior for East Asia Oceania Region, Fr. Vaclav Klement, today confirmed that the Rector Major with the consent of his Council has appointed Fr. Andres Calleja Ruiz (more commonly known as Andres Calleja) as Provincial of East Timor Vice Province for the next six years.  The Salesian Vice Province, with its provincial base in Dili, also includes Indonesia, with important centres in Jakarta, Tigaraksa on Java and, most recently, the missionary presence in Sumba (Indonesia) in the region known as Nusa Tenggara Timor.

 

Fr. Calleja, Spanish-born (Madrid), a member of the then single Filipino Province from 1982 after his practical training, first came to East Timor in 1988 when appointed Novice Master at Fatumaca.  He was perhaps amongst the youngest, if not the youngest novice master in the Congregation at that time.  The following year he also became Rector of that community and remained there until 1995, when he moved to Jakarta as Rector there, and also became Vice Provincial until 2002.  In 2001, in what were arguably some of the most difficult moments for the tiny nation, Andres Calleja returned to East Timor as Rector at Comoro, Dili, but was then asked to pioneer the new community at Sumba, Indonesia, where he is still, until he takes up his provincial appointment in several months time.

 

Fr. Calleja, besides his native Spanish, has a good knowledge of Tagalog, Portuguese, English, Italian, Bahasa Indonesia and Tetum.

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