First Day of RM in Timor Leste
Dili, Timor Leste, 30 January 2018 -- The tenth successor of St John Bosco and Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr Angel Fernandez Artime SDB arrived at Dili, Timor Leste in the morning of 30th January. This is the third Salesian Rector Major visiting Timor Leste after first and second visit of Fr. Egido Viganò 30 years ago in 1988, and Fr. Pascual Chavez 14 years ago in 2004; 91 years after the first salesian community arrived in Timor Leste in 1927.The Rector Major was accompanied by his secretary Fr. Horacio Lopez and Salesians from Jakarta Fr. Lino Quintão Belo and Fr. Onny together with Salesian Bishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, Bishop of Diocese of Dili.
The Rector Major and his team were solemnly welcomed at Dili airport by many numbers of the salesian family: thousands of young people and students and so many Salesians and Salesian Sisters, Alumni of Don Bosco, Salesian Cooperators, ADMA and friends of Don Bosco who were eagerly awaiting the Rector Major. “Seeing, touching and meeting the Rector Major in person it’s really a blessing for me and for my family. - Says Gaspar Freitas Kassa, an alumnus of Don Bosco and a father of two kids - Talking to him and listening to him, during this coming 7 days,.. well I feel very blessed and I can feel Don Bosco's presence. His visit is really strengthening our alumni commitment to share mission with salesians here. He brings alive the experience of Don Bosco to us to explore. Many other young students shouted 'Viva Don Angel, Viva Don Bosco, bemvindo and welcome dear Fr. Angel to our country, we love you'”.
Fr. Angel was then driven by parades of young people to the Hall of Youth Training Centre, where the formal ceremony was held, accompanied by Fr. Apolinario, the Provincial, driven by a car rounded by young people. He, then was stop for a while by Salesian Sister’s students to welcome him with a beautiful song of benvenidos.
In a welcome speech given by Provincial Fr Apolinario in Portuguese, he thanked the Rector Major for his presence in the Province. “A father between us, Don Bosco’s presence in our life. Your presence opens for us a new well of joy and of love which will give a new water of life to all of us. As sons and daughters of Don Bosco, we feel very happy with your presence among us as father, brother and friend. The Salesian Congregation flourished in our country through the courage and sacrifices of our great salesian missionaries. They came here in two expeditions: first in 1927 till 1929 and they could not stay longer for causes difficult to explain, but the second expedition was truely fruitful: the good seed spread in good soil and continued to grow until today. Some of our missionaries returned home, some died here and other are still alive working in our Province. The small seed is growing bigger with many fruits, in many Salesian groups: SDB, FMA, ASC, ADMA, VDB and friends of Don Bosco. Besides Timor, salesian presence also flourish in Indonesia since 1985, where now will begin a new Delegation. Salesian Family, especially SDB and FMA, doesn’t only work in this country but go also outside as missionaries in different countries of the world. We do pray that the Lord continue blessing us, so that we continue to work for the good of the people in the family, in the church and in the country. We hope your presence will strengths our commitment and fidelity to our salesian vocation. Seja bemvindo a sua casa em Timor Pe. Angel e que a sua visita se torne uma grande benção para todos nós”.
In return the Rector Major addressed the assembly also with Portuguese mix with spanish: “I’m deeply happy to be here with you all. Rome is very far from Timor, but not Timor far from Rome. We started from Rome on Sunday, and today is Tuesday at our arrival in Timor. We passed through Indonesia just a while, and then we will formally return for second time. I’m really happy seeing so many young people, adults, aged and many others from Salesian Family and I am sure that we meet again tomorrow for the feast of Don Bosco. I have to say one thing that is really true. I come here not just because of a program I have to come to Timor today, no oh no. I come here because I love you all. I celebrated the first year of the Feast of Don Bosco in Valdoco (Turin), the second year in Africa, in Siera Leone; in the third year, in Cuba, and the fourth year I decided to go to Asia. But Asia is very big. It is not true? Is true! And Timor is not so big, is it? All the places I’ve visited were very good but Timor is the best one to celebrate the Feast of Don Bosco. I feel very happy to greet you, my dear confrers, my beloved brother that now a Bishop present here among us, Don Virgilio; dear Salesians Sisters and other sisters and members of the Salesian Family that are so lovely. I just greet you in this way but tomorrow we have to celebrate the Feast of Don Bosco. Just enough for today and obrigado,obrigado.” After spoking to the assembly, Fr. Angel went among the students and salesian family giving them photo opportunities and greeting them in person.
The Rector Major shared a lunch with the Salesian Family in the Provincial House. He had a very happy time with some students and staff of the Provincial House. He particularly congratulated and thanked the first old salesian missionary Fr. João de Deus Pires, SDB for his outstanding work in the past 60 years for the foundation of the salesian presence in Timor Leste. An afternoon tea was served in the same Provincial House. Later in the same afternoon, the Rector Major toured around the compound of Provincial House before visiting and participating in the last day of the “Novena to Dom Bosco” in the Parish of Mary Help of Christians. Fr Angel Artime SDB, doesn’t seem to have much rest since his arrival from Jakarta to Dili. He was smiling through his busy first day at Salesian Provincial House compound. He made every one smile too. It was meeting the real Don Bosco, as many of the Salesian Family said after seeing Fr. Angel on the first day.
The Rector Major's schedule in Timor Leste:
- On the second day, 31th January, Fr Angel will preside the Holy Eucharistic Feast of Saint John Bosco with Salesian Family in the Parish of Mary Help of Christian.
- On the third day, 1st of February in the morning, Fr Angel will have a meeting with Alumni/AASDB and then in the afternoon he will travel to Fatumaca, the Mother House of the Province, about 4 hours by car.
- On the Fourth day, 2th February, Fr Angel will have a meeting with thousands of ADMA members in Fatumaca then in the afternoon with Salesian Sisters (FMA) in their Mother House at Venilale another 30 menit drive from Fatumaca. Later in the same afternoon he will have a brief visit to Salesian Blessed Filipe Rinaldi Community of Venilale who take care for the pre-aspirants of 160 boys. Then he turns back to Fatumaca to have meeting with 22 novices and the salesians in the community of Fatumaca.
- On the fifth day, 3th February, Fr Angel will travel back to Dili to meet with Salesian Youth Movement (MJS) and have Mass with them in the afternoon.
- On the sixth day, 4th February, Fr Angel will meet with Salesian Cooperators in the morning, then in the afternoon with the Rectors from the eleven communities of the Province.
- On the seventh day, 5th February, Fr Angel will have meeting with Provincial and his Councils and in the afternoon he will travel to Jakarta (Indonesia).
