austraLasia #2999
A dream come true: opening of Salesian Philosophical Institute, East Timor, 24 January 2012
DILI: 26 January 2012 -- The Feast of St Francis of Sales was occasion for great joy in ITM, East Timor: the inauguration of the Salesian Philosophical Institute at Comoro, Dili, by Fr João Paolino Aparício Guterres, Superior of the ITM Vice Province. Before the official opening, Fr João was main celebrant at the Mass celebrated in the post-novitiate chapel at Comoro. Civil authorities were represented by Dr. José Luis Guterres, Deputy Prime Minister, and Dr. João Cancio, Minister for Education. The Salesian Family was represented by the Vice Provincial of the Salesian Sisters, and the President of the Past Pupils of Don Bosco.
In his address at the beginning of the ceremony, Fr Helio Cabral, the Rector of the new Institute, thanked the guests for taking part and thus sharing in the dream of the ITM Vice Province to have its own study centre in East Timor. The inauguration of this centre means a new leaf has been turned in Salesian history in East Timor. After 64 years of presence there, Timorese Salesians can now achieve their intellectual formation in their own land and in a truly Salesian setting. There are currently 25 Salesian clerical students at the Institute. The teaching staff comprises ten Salesians and one Salesian Sister.
Fr Paolino recalled the need and importance of having our own study centre which could dialogue with local culture, especially with the culture of the young. The Institute aims to form Salesians deeply imbued with the spirit of Don Bosco, and who are at the same time radically Timorese. He also indicated that the Institute would bear the name of St Francis of Sales and be thereby inspired by his great ideal: Christian humanism.
On behalf of the Government, the Deputy Prime Minister thanked the Salesians for their contribution in building up the nation. He expressed the view that cooperation between Church and State was a guarantee of stability in the country. The new Institute would certainly contribute constructively to the country. The Minister for Education offered the Government's support for the new Institute and the Salesians. He had expressly requested the Salesians to begin a process of accreditation that would see the Institute formally recognised by the Government and thus able to enjoy the privileges that would follow from such recognition.
The guests were then invited to visit the Institute's library, 'aula magna' and other lecture halls, and the audio-visual room.
A dream come true: opening of Salesian Philosophical Institute, East Timor, 24 January 2012
by Fr Placido Teofilo Freitas sdb, sc delegate
In his address at the beginning of the ceremony, Fr Helio Cabral, the Rector of the new Institute, thanked the guests for taking part and thus sharing in the dream of the ITM Vice Province to have its own study centre in East Timor. The inauguration of this centre means a new leaf has been turned in Salesian history in East Timor. After 64 years of presence there, Timorese Salesians can now achieve their intellectual formation in their own land and in a truly Salesian setting. There are currently 25 Salesian clerical students at the Institute. The teaching staff comprises ten Salesians and one Salesian Sister.
Fr Paolino recalled the need and importance of having our own study centre which could dialogue with local culture, especially with the culture of the young. The Institute aims to form Salesians deeply imbued with the spirit of Don Bosco, and who are at the same time radically Timorese. He also indicated that the Institute would bear the name of St Francis of Sales and be thereby inspired by his great ideal: Christian humanism.
On behalf of the Government, the Deputy Prime Minister thanked the Salesians for their contribution in building up the nation. He expressed the view that cooperation between Church and State was a guarantee of stability in the country. The new Institute would certainly contribute constructively to the country. The Minister for Education offered the Government's support for the new Institute and the Salesians. He had expressly requested the Salesians to begin a process of accreditation that would see the Institute formally recognised by the Government and thus able to enjoy the privileges that would follow from such recognition.
The guests were then invited to visit the Institute's library, 'aula magna' and other lecture halls, and the audio-visual room.
