Uai-Mori, Viqueque, Timor Leste, 27 September 2020 -- Some time ago, the Community of Uai-Mori, Viqueque Municipality requested Fr Eligio Locatelli, SDB, to build a new chapel for them to worship God. Because the area of the community is isolated from other cities, the Catholic community of Uai-Mori has only rare access to Sunday Holy Mass. They can only attend monthly Holy Mass thanks to the visit of Father Locatelli.
Therefore, Fr Locatelli conveyed their request to the Past Pupils of Don Bosco Timor-Leste to support the construction of a new chapel which will also include a residence for priests. This was welcomed very enthusiastically by the past pupils and they decided to build a new church in the same style as an old Church in Dili used by the first Salesian community (1927-1929) which had been destroyed during the Second World War.
The Past pupils have raised funds from July 2020 for the new church's construction in Uai-Mori Village, Viqueque Municipality. The estimated budget to be raised is USD 100,000.00.
Thus, 27 September 2020, marked a new history for the Uai-Mori people because the Reverend Bishop of the Baucau Diocese, Don Basilio do Nascimento officially launched the construction of the new chapel through the celebration of Holy Mass and blessing of the area for construction.
The Uai-Mori community and the Salesian Family agreed that Salesian Saint Martyr Callisto Caravario be the protector of the Uai-Mori Community to remember the first arrival of the Salesians and St Callisto in Timor-Leste from 1927 to 1929. Thus, it has marked a new history in the services of the Salesian Family as the church can be promoted as a religious tourism destination in the near future.
Therefore, the past pupils would like to express our deepest gratitude to those who have contributed morally, materially and financially, as well as to the community and Viqueque parish priests who have helped to organise this new chapel's/church's construction event.
Participating in the event was the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, Dr. José Lucas do Carmo da Silva, some Salesian Priests and Brothers, officers of Timor Leste National Federation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco, local Catholic community and parish priest of Viqueque.
Uai-Mori was the last Headquarters of the Armed Forces for the National Liberation of East Timor (FALINTIL) in 1999 when the United Nations Mission (UNAMET) was established and conducted the popular consultation. Therefore, today, it becomes an historic area in Timor-Leste, and needs to be promoted as a religious and historical heritage area for future tourist destinations.
