Novitiate Opening

Novice Master Fr. Joaquim Sarmento (right) with first three novices to enter Manresa Jesuit Novitiate in Dili, East Timor, Armando Smith, Luis Pereira and Gemito de Jesus.

The Independent Region of East Timor opened Manresa Jesuit Novitiate on April 22, Feast of Mary, Queen of the Society of Jesus. Fr Superior John Mace concelebrated with Frs Novice Master Joaquim Sarmento and Joao Felgueiras, with most of the Jesuits of the Region in attendance together with the parents of pioneer Novices Luis Pereira, Gemito do Carmo Amaral de Jesus and Januario Armando Smith who entered the same day.

The novitiate is located in the Lahane Residence until a permanent structure can be constructed on a piece of property in Hera already purchased thanks to a very generous and much appreciated gift of $300,000 from the British Province. Renovations of the Lahane Residence have been underway since early January. Repairs on the front building are completed and is the locus of our first novitiate. The rear storehouse was demolished, and a small two-story structure, being built in its place, will be completed in a few months. All this renovation and construction is possible thanks to generous gifts solicited by Fr Philip Heng in Singapore. This is only the latest of the benefactions this Region owes to the Malaysia-Singapore Region. Malaysia-Singapore has funded the novitiate formation of all East Timorese novices since they first went to Singapore in 2002. We are truly grateful. The five novices currently in Singapore will complete their novitiate training there.

Casa Gonzaga

Our house for candidates has relocated from Lahane to a rented house not far from the Loyola Residence under the leadership of Fr Joseph Phuong (VIE). At this time we have four candidates living there. Once a new permanent novitiate is constructed, the candidates (and Casa Gonzaga) will return to the Lahane Residence.

Comings

On April 11, we were very happy to welcome seven scholastics from Arrupe International Residence in Manila: Isaias Caldas, Calisto Colo, Diogo Carvalho, Sidelizio Pereira, Joao dos Santos, Paulo Miguel dos Santos and Gustavo Soares. They visited their families for two weeks and are now spending the remaining time re-acquainting themselves with Jesuits and their works in East Timor: St. Joseph High School, Railaku and Suai. They will return to Manila on May 23.

On April 24, Fr Violanto Soares returned from nine months in Brazil for tertianship.

We have been blessed with several visitors. On May 26, Fr Frank Brennan (ASL) arrived for a visit until May 7. Among other projects, he will spend some time with the priests of the Diocese of Baucau speaking about the East Timor oil situation. On April 27, Fr Nuno Goncalves, Provincial of Portugal, and Fr Afonso Heredia, Mission Procurator, arrived for a visit until May 4. The occasion for their coming is to attend the blessing of the Escola Amigos de Jesus. This primary school, providing free schooling for poor children, is the fulfillment of the long-time dream of Fr Joao Felgueiras and a group of laypersons known as Amigos de Jesus. The blessing took place on May 1.

Goings

On April 24, Fr Guillermo Eduardo (Lalo) Lebron returned to his home Province of Paraguay after six years of ministry in this Region.

On April 25, Bro Roberto Boholst left for Manila to begin his theology studies after two years of regency at St. Joseph High School and at the Pre-novitiate, Casa Gonzaga.

On April 26, Fr Bambang Sipayung returned to Indonesia after setting up JRS in East Timor once again. JRS left East Timor in 2002 but has returned because of the ongoing tragedy of the estimated 80,000 internally displaced peoples who still remain in many camps in various parts of the country. A layman, Mr. Isidoro Da Costa, is the East Timor Project Director under JRS Asia/Pacific Director, Fr Bernard Arputhasamy, in Bangkok. We feted all three at a despedida on 23 April.