Installation of the new Superior of the Vice-province

By Br. Amilcar Da Silva, SDB

Dili, Timor Leste, 11 July 2016 -- The fifth Superior of the ITM (Indonesia – Timor Leste) Vice-province Fr. Apolinario Maria Ornai NETO was installed during a Eucharistic celebration in the Mary Help of Christians Parish church, Dili - Comoro on the evening of 11th July 2016. Amidst the 500 participants were young people and numerous representatives and leaders of different Salesian Family groups (SDB, FMA, Salesian Cooperators, Don Bosco Past Pupils, ADMA and VDB) was present as former Provincial also Bishop of Dili, Virgilio Da Silva, SDB. The presence of Fr. Francis Cais (THA) who is preaching a retreat in Dili and one senior Timorese missionary – novice master in Mozambique (MOZ) Fr. Adolfo Sarmento gave a special international and missionary touch to the Assembly. The presence of almost all ITM rectors and 80 Salesians expressed the unity around the new Superior.

The Eucharist was presided in Tetum by the East Asia - Oceania regional councilor Fr. Václav Klement, who made feel the closeness of the Rector Major to the largest Salesian Vice-province in the world with more than 200 confreres and 11 novices. After the profession of faith (Portuguese) the new provincial received GC27 Biblical Icon of Jesus the Vine Tree as a symbol of unity with the world Salesian community.

After the Eucharist there was a family gathering and dinner in the nearby Blessed Rinaldi Post-novitiate community in Comoro with a wonderful music background contributed by our parish youth and post-novices. During the province wide gathering was celebrated also the Silver Jubilee of Salesian profession of Fr. Yohanes Laba, Fr. Illidio Correia and Fr. Josè de Sa.

Early in the afternoon there was a short encounter of the Salesian confreres with the EAO regional councilor, who shared useful insights with the provincial community at the beginning of the new Superior term:

Thanks for the journey of past 90 years of the Salesian presence




Next year the Salesians will remember 90th anniversary of the first Salesian missionaries with St Callistus Caravario to Dili (1927-1929), followed later by another start from Portugal province (1946). We are grateful for all missionaries who gave their life and sweat in both countries of the ITM. Obrigado Barak – Terima Kasih!




Saint Callistus Caravario – Patron and ongoing Model of ITM




What does it mean for us to be a ‘Vice-province of Saint Callistus Caravario’? When we visit his birth-place (Italy) or his martyrdom place (China) or when we read his simple letters to his mother, we can appreciate a strong missionary life witness. He is very fitting model for the young confreres of Vice-province. By chance he is precisely the last among the 120 Holy Martyrs of China (Feast 9th of July). We were invited to discover our Patron as faithful and joyfully obedient disciple of Jesus, ready to go wherever is necessary. And he is a fruit of Don Bosco education, with a special love for liturgy and missionary animation.




What we learn from the consultation process




Fr. Václav shared also the most important results of the new superior consultation process, especially the priorities for next 6 years: 75% of the confreres stress the focus on formation (qualifications, systematic formation path and spiritual guidance), 50% of the Salesians looks for more effective animation and governance: formation of leaders, clear provincial vision and fraternal correction; 25% of the members underlines the need of develop Youth Ministry: provincial team, process oriented mentality; Consecrated life: prayer, religious discipline and fidelity to the Constitutions; Economy and administration: growth in transparency, accountability, supervision of economers.




Contribution of the Vice-province to the worldwide Congregation




Our Vice-province is generous with sending every year some missionary ad gentes and as concrete model was shared the personal message of Cl. Julião Dos Santos (PGS missionary). Attention to the fruitful exchange between two countries of the Vice-province is another model for some mono-cultural province around the EAO region.




Re-shaping of the Salesian presences in Indonesia – Timor Leste




The interest of the confreres was shown through some questions related to the not yet finished work of the recent provincial chapter 2016. We realized that the reshaping of our presences is not just for old European province, it’s more about the way how do we carry on the quality Salesian mission today. It does include the qualifications of the Salesians, involvement and formation of lay mission partners, numerical and quality consistency of our communities. Starting with the first survey to the local communities we will continue this province wide process of reflection until next May 2017.

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