By Fr. Ramoncito A. Padilla, SDB

Fatumaca, Timor Leste, 8 September 2015 - Ten Timorese young Salesians made their first profession after a year of formation in the Salesian Novitiate of Fatumaca, Timor Leste. The Provincial of the ITM (Indonesia-Timor) Vice-Province of St. Callistus Caravario, Fr. Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, received them into the Salesian Congregation in the name of the Rector Major. The names of the newly professed are:

• Cl. Alberto das Neves
• Cl. Domingos da Costa
• Cl. Eustáquio João Soares
• Cl. Emanuel de Sousa do Rego
• Cl. Fidel Junior
• Cl. Francisco Horta
• Cl. Gilbertino Soares
• Bro. José Ancelmo Soares
• Cl. Melsior Porseni Amaral
• Cl. Pedro Agostinho Freitas Ferreira

The simple but well-prepared ceremony of the first profession took place at the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians during the Eucharistic Celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of our Lady presided over by the Provincial himself and concelebrated by several priests. A large number of parents, relatives, benefactors, religious men and women, students of the Don Bosco Professional Technical School and the young people of the Oratory all came to witness the event.

In his homily the Provincial pointed out that the first profession of these ten new Salesians is one of the best fruits of the Bicentennary of Don Bosco’s birth and the 500th Year Anniversary of the Evangelization of East Timor, “…and therefore a sentiment of gratitude to God should be welling up from deep within our hearts.” Before the end of the Mass, the Provincial thanked also those who, in one way or another, have been instrumental in the vocation and formation of the new Salesians: their parents, their formators, the Salesians of Fatumaca, especially the Rector and Director of Novices. Salesian Brother Jose Anselmo also expressed his and his companions’ deep sense of gratitude to all those who made the day of their First Profession possible. He asked the assembly to pray for them so that they may live out the motto they took and not merely talk about it: “Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Before the final blessing of the Mass, the Provincial announced the Communities where the newly professed were to go and stay for the moment, before they finally begin their Post-Novitiate on 12 October. After the First Profession Ceremony, those who had gathered held a fraternal agape during which the newly professed expressed to everyone the joy they felt for this day which will never be forgotten.

It should be noted that the day before, two practical trainees, Bro. Filipe Cardoso Sarmento and Bro. Eliseu Mendes de Assunção also made their renewal of religious profession, and those who were going to profess as candidates to the priesthood received their cassocks.

In the evening during the Vespers on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother, Fr. Anacleto Pires, the new Rector of Don Bosco Fatumaca and Director of Novices presided at the Rite of Admission to the Novitiate and officially welcomed 13 new novices, fitting gifts for the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birthday, indeed!