By TLS SC

       Fatumaca, Timor-Leste, 24 June 2023 -- Last week, on the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, 158 new members have joined ADMA in Timor-Leste. The Vice-Provincial, Fr Manuel Pinto, sdb presided at the Eucharist with five concelebrants, including the TLS Delegate for ADMA, Fr Manuel Ximenes, sdb. This special event took place at the National Shrine in Fatumaca with numerous participants of ADMA members from different centres in the country together with their president and his close collaborators, FMA Sisters and their Vice-Provincial, Sr. Evangelina Xavier da Costa, fma, and families of newly promised members. Interestingly, among the 158 new members, there are young people since ADMA was known for parents and older people.

       In his homily, Fr Manuel Pinto, sdb reminded the participants as they make their spiritual pilgrimage, that they are not just there to fill up their annual calendar activities, yet they must be aware of God’s blessings and graces, God’s gracious gift that has been showered upon each member and everyone and they have journeyed together as a group, as an association. "As we celebrate the nativity of John the Baptist, let us be grateful to God since the birth of John the Baptist is a gift from God. John means God is gracious. With his birth, John the Baptist was tasked with preparing the people of God for repentance and baptism and to lead them to the glory of God which later opened up the way for Jesus to enter into the scene of God’s saving act in history." After the homily, the candidates made their promise to live out the virtues of Mary and were ready to be her witnesses in their Christian life as well as the promoters of the devotion to Our Lady. Each candidate lined up to receive the medal of Our Lady and the ADMA Handbook as their rule of life.

       After the Mass, in front of the Shrine, ADMA TLS launched its bulletin with its first-ever edition accompanied by Fr. Manuel Pinto, sdb, Fr. Manuel Ximenes, sdb (Delegate for ADMA), Sr. Evangelina Xavier da Costa, fma and FMA Sisters, and all participants.

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