Vocation story going back to the St Callistus Caravario times

By Bro. Adriano de Jesus, SDB

Dili, Timor Leste, 24 June 2018 -- Salesian Brother Carlos Da Conceicao Marques was born on February 17, 1912 in Wailili (Baucau) - he was 15 years old when the first Salesian missionary expedition inlcuding Fr. Callistus Caravario reach the shores of Timor Leste. He is the first Timorese person who joined the Salesian Congregation although he passed away in Portugal on 29th October 1978.

His vocation story is very simple. He enrolled into the first Salesian technical school in Dili (Escola Salesiana de Artes e Oficios) and attended during the two years of the first Salesian stay in Timor (1927-1929) as student of carpentary - masonary section. In the daily contact with the Salesian he remained insipired especially by the Rector Fr. Herminio Rossetti and the future Saint, that time just 'practical trainee' Cl. Callistus Caravario. When the Salesians were leaving Timor in 1929, they took with them few promissing boys to Italy. So Carlos was able to finish his technical studies in Turin, Rebaudengo Institute in 1932 and enter the Salesian Novitiate in Villa Moglia (Chieri) and made his first Salesian profession on 14th September 1933 and spent another 4 years in Italy (Foglizzo and Rebaudengo).

Then he went to Portugal province - where we made his perpetual profession in 1938 and worked in the Oratorio de Sao Jose (Evora) as an Assistant assigned to different house tasks. In 1943 became part of the first SDB expedition to the island of Cabo Verde (Portugal territory) that started in Sao Nicolau the first Don Bosco education work, until 1947.

When the Salesians were again invited to Timor Leste in 1946 (first expedition), Br. Carlos reached his homeland on 23rd June 1947 for next 3 years. Then due to his frail health he returned again to Portugal in 1950 (Oficinas de Sao Jose - Lisboa)

Br. Carlos went to heaven in Quinta do Pisao (Alcabideche) on October 29, 1978 after long years of incurable sickness at the age of 66 years and 45 years of Salesian religious profession. His tomb is in the cemetary of Frequesia de Alcabideche -Cascais (Portugal).

The Salesians remember Br. Carlos as man of many distinguished qualities, faithful in his profession, always ready to contribute to improve the community environment, hardworking character, exemplary religious with spirit of sacrifice, loving the Congregation always able to attract the young people to Jesus.

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