By Bro. Amilcar D’Silva, SDB

Dili, Timor Leste, 29 December 2016 -- The Salesian Priests, Brothers and the novices in Timor Leste hold a provincial day in the community of Don Bosco Dili. It’s a special day once in a year to come together, to greet each other, to thank each other and in a special way to thank the Provincial. It’s also an opportune moment to celebrate Christmas together. This year, however, the confreres were not only coming to celebrate Christmas and to thank the provincial; there were also salesian formation for the brothers with temporary vows and the perpetual vows. The formation was guided by Father Philip Lazatin SDB from the Philipine and it last two days.

The provincial day was featured with the three events: Conference, Eucharistic celebration and Family togetherness (Fraternal Agape). The Conference began at 09.30 AM by the Provincial; Father Apolinario Ornai SDB. His point of reflection in the conference was based on the letter of the Rector Major addressed to the Provincial on governing the Province; articles 49 and 50 of the Constitution and encouraging each confreres to be authentic Salesian. After half an hour of talk, the Provincial presented to the confreres, the list of the name of the members and the new rector in every community. Having presented the changes in the community of some confreres, he then, thanked each and every confrere for their tireless services in the community and wished the confreres a vibrant zeal of apostolate in the coming year.

The next event and the most important one and the centre of all our energies is the Eucharistic Celebration. The Eucharistic Celebration took place in the chapel of the community of the Don Bosco Training Centre, Dili. The main celebrant was Bishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva SDB and the novices animated the Mass with choirs. In the homily, Bishop Virgilio extended his gratitude to the provincial for inviting him to be present among the confreres and he re-echoed the message of the Rector Major in the Strenna 2016 on the family that we are family: a school of life and love.

The last event of the day is the Fraternal Agape. So, after the liturgical celebration, it was also a real celebration at table, in which everyone had a taste of the most delicious food that was meticulously organized by the Province’s Administrator, Father Basilio Ximenes SDB. All the confreres enjoyed a grand lunch, a typical salesian animation of singing and dancing and exchanged Christmas gifts to each other as we celebrated the Christmas.

To the end of the day, Father Provincial concluded the programs by expressing gratitude to all the confreres, the rector and members of salesian community of Dili for being generous to host the celebrations. He also extended his greeting of New Year 2017 to all the confreres and wished them a year full of joy and energy to kick-start the mission with enthusiasm.

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