“We send only the best men to the mission!” said Fr Mark Raper SJ in his homily during the missioning mass presided over by Philippine Provincial Superior Fr Jojo Magadia SJ.  The mass was held at the Arrupe International Residence (AIR) on May 13, 2011.

Although Fr Mark was recalling the words of his former superior decades ago, the statement remained valid in the missioning of Fr Lester Maramara SJ from the Philippine Province to Timor Leste.   

Although Fr Lester had been in AIR for only two years, his positive attitude and generous commitment to various responsibilities made him memorable in the community.

He was the director for the theologians in his first year and for the philosophers in his second. In the absence of AIR’s rector due to ill health, he was made acting rector for about five months.  He did the job so well and with such kindness and prudence that many community members hoped he would continue in the job for a few more years.  This was in addition to his fulltime job as director of the campus ministry office at Ateneo de Manila University.  He also helped the scholastics with their apostolates and directed retreats in various parts of the Philippines.

Regarding his new mission to Timor Leste, he said, “I realise more deeply that as I open myself completely to God’s blessing and goodness, He leads me to more exciting and meaningful experiences and also sends me a more trusting heart.”

The Timor Leste scholastics at AIR reacted positively to his mission. Calisto (AB Philo IV), Lan (AB Philo III), and Louis (Junior) said with one voice that they were very happy with his mission and that they were confident of his positive contribution to the Jesuit mission in the country.

Fr Lester arrived in Timor Leste on May 26, 2011 and will be helping with the formation of novices until mid-August when he leaves for his tertianship in Sri Lanka.  He has already set his heart on a long-term commitment in Timor Leste to which he will return after his tertianship.