Blessed Artemide Zatti Postnovitiate Dili

By Fr. Inocencio Dimantino da Silva, SDB

Dili, Timor Leste, 14 March 2018 -- The largest SDB community in Timor Leste, the postnovitiate of Blessed Philip Rinaldi with 39 Salesians, was chosen as the opening of 2018 Extraordinary Visitation in Timor Leste (March 10-14). One of the three communities in Dili - Comoro Don Bosco compound, was started only 11 years ago and its main mission is to cater for the postnovice formation (Philosophy, Pedagogy and Salesianity) of the young generations.

Under the leadership of the Rector Fr. Manuel Pinto with other 6 formators the 32 postnovices (3 Salesian Brothers and 29 candidate to the priesthoood) are accompanied in the 4 generation community with a strong family spirit. From the most senior ITM Salesian, Fr. Joao de Deus (Portoguese missionary, 60 years in Timor) and Fr. Manuel Fraile (confessor, provincial delegate for missionary animation) until the youngest postnovices of 21 years, the formation house family is vibrant, prayerful, united and well animated.

Community animation is geared around five groups (missionary, liturgical, sport, pastoral and cultural), with a challenging educative pastoral ministry during the weekedn in the Oratories around Dili (Beduco, Beto-tasi, Tasi-tolu, Masilidun, Parish MHC, Kaitehu, Centro, St. John Bosco, Cristal School, Dejukdil and Lurumata). Since 2018 the community open a new frontier in the local Dili prison ministry.

Each postnovice with their own confessor and Cafasso (spiritual guide) and personal plan of life embarks on the daily vocation growth journey. Together with other 20 external students (Carmelites and Lay people) they attend the SDB held Philosophy Institute of St. Francis de Sales located in the same Postnovitiate community building. As all around Timor Leste, the four languages - Tetun (local), Portuguese, English and Bahasa Indonesia are used together by most of the confreres, officially they rotate one English and one Portoguese liturgical week.

Missionary formation and animation is a special strength of Blessed Artemide Zatti: many of the postnovices are involved in missionary animation: annual Mission Day, specially animated prayers on 11th of the month, missionary board and other missionary group activities with Salesian Mission Day videos are projected monthly for all. Also this year 2-3 third year students finalize their discernment for mission ad gentes.

Postnovitiate is one of the 4 formation houses of Timor Leste: two senior aspirantates (Dili - Fatumaca), prenovitiate (Los Palos) and novitiate (Fatumaca). Zatti community Salesians are still digesting three special blessings recieved during last month - the visit of the Rector Major, the EAO provincials week with prayers in their community and recent Extraordinary visitation. Now they feel more in communion with the whole Congregation spread in 132 countries around the world.

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