The Jesuit Region of Timor-Leste is blessed with a new deacon. Herculano Pereira Moniz SJ was ordained on 6 August in the Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral in Dili by Archbishop Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva SDB. He was ordained to the diaconate with six others, two Franciscans and four diocesan men.

Deacon Herculano Pereira Moniz SJ

Born in the town of Maliana, southwest of Dili, Deacon Moniz, 37, joined the Society of Jesus in 2005 in Singapore. He was then sent to Manila for juniorate and philosophy studies. He returned to Timor for his Regency where he spent two years assisting in Casa Gonzaga, the Jesuit candidacy house, and then a year in the Jesuit secondary school, Colégio de Santo Inácio de Loiola. After which he was again sent to Manila for theology studies.

After many years of studies abroad, he has finally returned home. His ordination was set back until the reopening of the church since the country’s declaration of a state of emergency due to the pandemic. In his homily, Archbishop da Silva urged the new deacons to serve the people with humility, and to bring the presence of the church into their lives, especially at this time of crisis.

“Surely, I was very happy,” shared Deacon Moniz. “After some delay, I was finally ordained.”

For him, his ordination is a means to follow Christ. “One simple and concrete way of following Christ is to be with the marginalised,” he said. “I pray that God who calls me will sustain me with enough grace for His ministry.”