Father General has approved the establishment of a novitiate in East Timor in 2008, likely in April. He has further approved the appointment of Fr Joaquim Francisco da Silva Sarmento as Novice Master and Fr Leonardus Dibyawiyata (IDO) as Socius to the Novice Master. We will use the house in Lahane for the first two or three years until we have experience to know what we need for a permanent novitiate. We have already begun the search for this permanent site.
Father General has also approved the appointment of Fr Emil Denemark (KOR) as Treasurer for the East Timor Region.
On September 25 we said our thanks and adeus to Fr Alberto Rutten (IDO) who returned to Indonesia on September 28 accompanied by Fr Venancio Pereira and Minor Seminary staff member, Fr Graciano. The night before his departure, Fr Rutten was feted at Our Lady of Fatima Minor Seminary where he has been stationed for 19 years.
We were happy to have three Major Superiors of the Assistancy visit us in September. Fr. Danny Huang (PHI) was with us for what is now irreverently being referred to as a “one-night stand” on September 12. He ended up spending more time in Bali than in Dili because of a strict interpretation of airline rules by Cathay Pacific. Fr Mark Raper (ASL) was with us September 17-22. In addition to meeting with Fr Quyen Vu (ASL) and others, he was able to reconnect with friends from the past. Fr Larry Tan (MAS) arrived September 24 and was with us until September 28. Malaysia-Singapore Schols. Agus Tanudjaja and Eugene Koh introduced him to various sites in East Timor.
On September 19, our senior member, Fr Joao Felgueiras (POR), celebrated 65 years in the Society. He entered the Society in 1942 at the age of 21, likely considered a “delayed vocation” in those days! Ad multos annos!
We congratulate Schol. Domingus Savio Freitas at Arrupe International Residence on the publication of A Minha Vida, a CD of ten songs he composed, some in Tetum, some in Portuguese, some in English and some in Spanish.
