The best of East Timor education - Colegio Aspirantado Venilale'
Venilale, Timor Leste, 5 May 2018 -- Since last 1990 more than 1150 young Timorese from all districts of East Timor graduated the 'Colegio Aspirantado Beato Filipe Rinaldi' in Venilale. It's the largest Junior High School Aspirantate in the whole EAO region with 170 boys (grade 7-9) coming from all districts of Timor Leste. Great number of the Timor Salesians are Alumni of this boarding school located in the center of Venilale sub-district, half on hour of driving distance from Fatumaca and Baucau.
Last 1990 the 'Venilale Project' was at the heart of the 3rd Salesian Mission Day with the theme 'Venilale - Young Evangelizers. The Salesian community (Rector Fr. Jose de Sa) is fully involved in the 24/7 assistance and teaching in the high school. Due to the low quality of East Timor public school system, many parents - Don Bosco Alumni - are looking to send their children to Venilale. Among the former students is also the World Councilor of Don Bosco Alumni (GEX) for Asia - Oceania Mr. Alberto Piedade, SDB provincial economer and also some Salesian missionary ad gentes.
Busy life rhythm of prayer (with the SDB community), study, house chores (green property is large opportunity of agriculture and animal care), sports (famous Don Bosco Cup with the Venilale Catholic schools), service and involvement in the local parish of Sacred Heart (parish priest Fr. Avelino) - all are the characteristics of the 'Rinaldi' daily life.
Some of the graduates continue in the senior high school aspirantate in Fatumaca 'Assales Don Bosco' (grade 10-12) with a possible next step to the prenovitiate in Los Palos and novitiate in Fatumaca. The close accompaniment of the Salesians (and priest and two full time SDB practical trainees with one lay assistant) facilitates the vocation culture of the Aspirantate to growth as 'Good Christians and Honest Citizens' with the touch of Don Bosco.
A vibrant Salesian family in Venilale - two FMA communities (orphanage, pre-aspirantate, technical school, clinic) group of ADMA (43 members), Center of Salesian Cooperators (19 members) and Don Bosco Alumni (42 members) - makes the Rinaldi Aspirantate a good cradle of many kinds of Salesian vocation.
Happy Feast Day of St. Dominic Savio!
