The Parish of Nossa Senhora de Fátima Railaco in Timor-Leste celebrated the 481st anniversary of the formation of the Society of Jesus on 27 September with the pronouncement of the Final Vows of Fr Erik John Gerilla SJ, the parish priest. Parishioners, religious sisters, priests, and Jesuits gathered for the Mass presided by Regional Superior Fr Joaquim Sarmento SJ.
A Filipino, Fr Gerilla has spent many years in Timor. He came to Timor for the first time in 2008 to do his Regency for two years. He went back to the Philippines to complete his theology studies and was ordained a priest on 14 September 2013. His commitment and passion to the mission in Timor did not cease after his ordination. He returned to Timor in 2014 and was assigned as the Treasurer of the Region until December 2019, when he left for Sydney, Australia for Tertianship. Upon his return to Timor in August 2020, he was missioned as the parish priest of Railaco.
Such passion and commitment to serve God’s people in the spirit of St Ignatius has led Fr Gerilla to the moment of his Final Vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and a fourth vow of obedience to the Holy Father. Heeding God’s call to serve the faithful in Timor has been for him a blessing to take part in God’s bigger mission. In turn, the parishioners of Railaco have been blessed to have him as their shepherd.
Fr Sarmento expressed his sincere gratitude to the parishioners and all the groups who helped to prepare and celebrate this momentous occasion. He congratulated Fr Gerilla for his dedication to the Jesuit mission in Timor. “Today we celebrate the 481st anniversary of the birth of the Society of Jesus, and at the same time, this is a special occasion for us because today the Society of Jesus receives a great present from God, our very priest, Fr Erik John Gerilla, pronouncing his Final Vows to the Church, to us, and especially to Railaco. Thank you all for accompanying Fr Erik in his Final Vows.”
Fr Gerilla thanked God for calling and guiding him throughout his journey, and thanked his family, friends, and the loving parishioners of Railaco for all their prayers. “My deepest gratitude to all who offered prayers, and expressed their well wishes on my profession of Final Vows in the Society of Jesus today. May God continue to be an abiding presence in our journey. May the mercy of God continue to sustain me in this vocation through the intercession of Mother Mary.”
