New priest remembers East Timor’s past
19 Aug 2010

New priest remembers East Timor’s past

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Plínio Martins retraced steps in his own and East Timor’s history when he was ordained in Dili on St Ignatius Day, July 31.

Over a thousand people took part in the celebration of the ordination of Plínio Rosário Gusmão dos Reis Martins in the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili . Bishop Alberto da Silva of Dili was the presiding Bishop, assisted by Bishop Greg O’Kelly (ASL). Plínio’s mother, accompanied by her brother, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão, joined the procession.

Jesuit deacons ordained
20 Dec 2009

Jesuit deacons ordained

by | posted in: Formation, Province News | 0

Four Jesuits were ordained as deacons in a joyful celebration at St Ignatius Church in Richmond, Australia on 3 December.

Korean Jesuits Shin-jae Youh, Jin-hyon Lee, and Jin-hyuk Park, were joined by East Timorese Jesuit Plínio Gusmão Martins at the ordination, with Bishop Greg O’Kelly presiding. Read more. . .

Jesuit and nurse in East Timor for 47 years
20 Oct 2009

Jesuit and nurse in East Timor for 47 years

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Brother Daniel Ornelas died on 4th September in Oporto (Portugal). He devoted himself to nursing in East Timor for almost 50 years. After four years in Portugal and six at Vatican Radio, he left for East Timor in 1962. There, he served until 1975 through maintenance, in diverse tasks, especially nursing. Since the conflict with Indonesia, he looked after the people in the mountains during those difficult 24 years. He attended to a large public and taught his skills to many people who were with him.

All Jesuits in East Timor
20 Oct 2009

All Jesuits in East Timor

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This photo was taken on 28 September at Retreat House in Dare at the end of Jesuits’ Community eight-day Retreat directed by Fr George Pattery, Provincial of the Kolkata (Calcutta) Province (front row, third from left).

JRS-Timor Leste: Government Strategy for Return and Reintegration of IDPs
8 Jul 2009

JRS-Timor Leste: Government Strategy for Return and Reintegration of IDPs

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

Walking around Dili city, one can no longer see the IDP camps. But for those who lost their homes during the crises of 2006 and 2007, their wait for “safe return and reintegration” is far from over.

Though reintegration of the IDPs into their communities started since 2008, there are still around three thousand people living in transitional houses. They are not able to return to their original homes for several reasons: concerns regarding their security, ongoing land disputes over ownership, illegal occupation of their houses, and some don’t have any place to stay.

Last of ET novices left Singapore
12 Jun 2009

Last of ET novices left Singapore

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On May 20, the last group of the East Timorese novices in Singapore took their vows at the Loyola Jesuit Novitiate. This date marks the end of seven years of East Timorese participation in that novitiate. Of note is the fact that the Singapore Jesuits never charged at all for this service to East Timor and the Jesuit Conference. For this, we remain ever grateful to the Malaysia-Singapore region.

An accident in East Timor
12 May 2009

An accident in East Timor

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Fr Violanto, together with Henry, a young Australian volunteer, the husband of Fr Violanto’s cousin, and Bro Tha (VIE), had an accident midday of April 28. The Land Cruiser that Fr Violanto was driving hit a rock, went off the road, and rolled four times before coming to a stop. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured. The husband of Fr Violanto’s cousin suffered the worst – his arms were fractured. All the others had minor injuries.

Fr Mace back on his feet
10 Mar 2009

Fr Mace back on his feet

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Fr John Mace (WIS), Regional Superior of East Timor, wrote on March 7, "I returned to the Jesuit Community of Creighton University after lunch today (Friday, March 6).

The operation took about one and one half hours on Monday morning, beginning at 7:30. I remember being rolled into the operating room. And then suddenly I heard nurses asking me how I felt. It was all over.

Amazing that the nurses had me stand up that very afternoon.