By Timor Leste Federation PPDB

       Dili, Timor Leste, 18 July 2022 -- It is rather rare that the Past Pupils of Don Bosco venture into a chapel project. With the approaching Centenary of Don Bosco's presence in East Timor (2027), the Federation of Past Pupils launched the St Callisto Caravario (Salesian protomartyr - missionary priest, 1904-1930) memorial chapel project two years ago in a very meaningful place in the heartland of East Timor.

       The Past pupils have raised funds from July 2020 for the new church's construction in Uai-Mori Village, Viqueque Municipality. The estimated budget was about USD 100,000,000 . Thus, 27 September 2020 marked a new history for the Uai-Mori people because the late Bishop of the Baucau Diocese, Don Basilio do Nascimento had blessed the foundation of this chapel. In spite of the pandemic, two year later in July 2022, this project of Don Bosco Past Pupils together with the Salesian Family and the Uaimori community is close to completion.

       The site of the chapel, located in Uaimori Tula, was chosen by Fr Eligio Locatelli, SDB - one of the Salesian pioneers. Indeed Uaimori has its own history during the long struggle for East Timor independence.

       At this time, the construction work is still under the responsibility of the Construction Committee of St Callisto Caravario of Uaimori. On the Chapel inauguration day it will be handed over to the Uaimori Catholic community through the Viqueque Catholic parish.

       This project is another expression of slowly approaching Centenary celebration of Salesians arrival in Timor Leste (1927-2027), since a young Italian missionary cleric, Callisto Caravario, was part of this first SDB community in East Timor (1927-1929).

       Related news article:

• AustraLasia 5477: Past Pupils in East Timor fund a new chapel
• AustraLasia 5644: Learning from each other (TLS Federation report 2021)

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