ITM Novitiate shifts East to Nusa Tenggara Archipelago - Sumba
JAKARTA: 3rd December 2005 -- After lengthy preparations, including the construction of new buildings on land in Waipengali, Sumba, members of the Tigaraksa community consisting of 8 formators, 11 novices and 8 pre-novices are engaged in a paradigm shift happening this weekend. It means that Fr. Andre Delimarta -the novice master- along with the 11 novices and a practical trainee are on the move from the suburban town of Tigaraksa (two hours by car from Jakarta City) to a remote village in an island called Sumba (three hours by plane from Jakarta City). Just like the first missionaries, they go “subito” to where the superiors have decided to send them, taking along with them their breviary, the constitutions, some clothes and also 30kg of baggage each! Other heavier things like equipment, tools and furniture have been shipped earlier, considering that the new novitiate in Sumba has to have its own generator for electricity and procure water from distribution trucks and do a host of other activities which people generally do in rural areas.
The Tigaraksa Community continues to be a formation house consisting of 6 formators and 8 pre-novices. The community also manages a Skills Training Center open to the public, offering short courses in mechanics, welding, motorcycle repair, electrical installation, sewing, computer operation and English language proficiency.
VOCABULARY
Waipengalia, Sumba: 'wai' is one of the clearest indicators that the language of this region forms part of the Austronesian, Central Malayo-Polynesian language group. Anywhere from SUmba to Samoa, wai will be recognised as meaning 'water'. Sumba island forms part of the Nusa Tenggara Archipelago just west of West Timor.
paradigm shift: Term first used in 1962 by Thomas Kuhn in reference to major changes of scientific thinking. Now applies to any situation of major change of style and thought patterns.
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