The beginning of the Apostleship of Prayer in Timor-Leste dates back to the early 1990s, when Portuguese Jesuits introduced devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. The first Portuguese Jesuit who coordinated this devotion was Fr João Felgueiras SJ, now 103 years old and still living in Dili. Fr José Alves Martins SJ, another Portuguese missionary, took over from him. After Timor-Leste achieved independence in 2002, Timorese Jesuit Fr Violanto da Costa Soares SJ took over.
Even today, cooperation between Timor-Leste and Portugal in the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network—Apostleship of Prayer thrives. We are grateful for the generous assistance in the form of spiritual resources provided by Portugal.
I continue this pontifical work as Timor-Leste’s national coordinator, following Fr Soares. Every diocese in Timor has an Apostleship of Prayer director, usually a parish priest, who collaborates with the national coordinator to promote and accompany Catholics in their devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Fr Alberto Ricardo, who became the bishop of Dili from 2005 to 2015 after Timor-Leste achieved independence, actively organised many activities related to this devotion.
Currently, Fr Valério Gusmão serves as the director of the Maliana Diocese. In Dili Diocese, the director is Fr Robertus SVD, while in the Diocese of Baucau, newly ordained Bishop Leandro Alves appointed Fr Marçal as director. Fr Marçal, during his studies, began to research the history and activities of the Apostleship of Prayer in his diocese.
The twin devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary has become one of the most popular devotions among Catholics in Timor-Leste. In fact, it could be described as the “people’s devotion”. When we were under Indonesian occupation, the Apostleship of Prayer played a crucial role in organising many spiritual activities. The members of these groups, known as associados/as and zeladores/as or coidadores, “caretakers”, were at the forefront of the prayer movements. During the darkest times in our history, many of our members seeking refuge in the forest continued their devotion for several years.
What makes Timorese Catholics strong and tenacious in their faith? It is their belief that by bringing humanity’s heart to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady as a Mother, we can experience comfort and peace in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Indeed, the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady has been a transformative force for many laypeople in Timor-Leste.
Still, we recognise that there are many challenges that our faithful face in their devotion and spiritual lives. One significant challenge is the proliferation of prayer groups, which can confuse Catholics. In response, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network has been strengthening its outreach down to the parish level these last 10 years, especially during the pontificate of Pope Francis. This has helped in the process of uniting, renewing, and deepening the participation of people in their parishes. The Apostleship of Prayer has had a tremendous influence on the life of the Church in Timor-Leste, nourished by the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Fr Venâncio da Costa Pereira SJ is the National Coordinator of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network—Apostleship of Prayer in Timor-Leste. The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network celebrates with the Church the Jubilee of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which began on 27 December 2023, the anniversary of the first main apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St Margaret Mary, and will last until 27 June 2025, the Solemnity of the Feast of the Sacred Heart.