By J. Mota SDB

       Dili, Timor Leste, 18November 2022 -- On Saturday, 12 November 2022, one day before the feast day of the newly canonized saint, the Salesian Family in TLS Vice-Province celebrated a thanksgiving Mass presided by His Eminence Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, SDB, Archbishop of Dili. It was a pleasure for the Salesian Family to gather on such an occasion to celebrate the goodness of God showered upon the Church and the Salesian Family through this newly canonized saint, a nurse, and a lay Salesian brother. The Mass was being celebrated in Mary Help of Christians parish Comoro.

       The holiness of life that Zatti has shown to the world and us, as highlighted by Pope Francis consists of his dedication to the sick, the poor, and the abandoned. With Zatti’s canonization, the way is now opened to all of us to fulfill our final purpose of life as Christians: to become a saint, added the Salesian Cardinal in his homily. However, as mentioned in the Gospel reading, the second question posted by a scholar of the law to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”, as members of the Salesian Family, all are invited to treat others (the strangers, the poor and the abandoned, those in need) as our neighbors, as our brothers. Being our neighbor or our brothers means those whom we must love with our goodwill and this love must be shown in concrete acts. Just like Zatti, after giving up his dream of becoming a priest, rather than choosing to become a lay brother, he dedicated himself totally to the care of the sick. This choice of Zatti did not come overnight, rather it came out with full confidence and trust in God’s plan. He got tuberculosis, a sickness that would bring him to give up his plan, and to get cured he relied on God’s power. He believed that he would get cured through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians. He made a promise that after getting healed, he will offer his life for taking care of the sick. And indeed, he was healed of tuberculosis. He became a model, like the good Samaritan, Jesus himself, to show compassion and love from God to others, especially the sick.

       All members of the Salesian Family were present: SDB, FMA sisters, Salesian Cooperators, ADMA, Past Pupils, and young people. Most of the rectors of the Salesian communities in TLS and other Salesian priests concelebrated in the Eucharist. Meanwhile, the former Provincial of ITM, Fr. Andres Calleja, SDB graced the event with his presence and shared his missionary experience in Istanbul with all participants after the Mass.

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