By Fr. Manuel Pinto, SDB

Dili, Timor Leste - Next October 4-8, 2016 the capital of RDTL (Republica Democratica de Timor Leste) – Dili – is preparing for the 11th East Asia – Oceania Regional Congress of the Don Bosco Past Pupils. This was probably one of the motivations for 50 members strong delegation from Timor Leste that participated this month in the 5th World Congress of the DB Past Pupils in Rome-Turin. Their pilgrimage continued from Torino through Fatima in Portugal. After return to Timor Leste the provincial delegate for the DB Past Pupils and leader of the delegation to the World Congress, Fr. Manuel Pinto answered few questions:

1. What is the background of this largest EAO delegation to the 2015 world congress?

As we know this year of Don Bosco’s Bicentenary is a year of grace for us as Salesian Family. The World Alumni Assembly was a very good coincidence where we took advantage to renew and enrich our Salesian life. Unlike the previous one (we were less than ten) this was big number, again, because of the year of grace.

2. Most striking moments of the pilgrimage in DB places?

From October 6 till 9 we were in Turin to learn more about Don Bosco by seeing, hearing and experiencing the Salesians Holy Land. For most of us it was really a blessing because it was first time in life and it happened in a very important year, Bicentenary. We focused only in three very important places where DB was formed and became saint: Castelnuovo (Colle), Chieri and Valdocco. We were divided in four groups according to the languages we know better (group of Tetum, Portuguese, Spanish and English). It was really enriching because we heard things with our own mother tongues (from Italian to four other languages).

Then another very striking moment was in Fatima, Portugal. We were able to participate in the Solemn Mass in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima October 13. It was the 98th. aniversary of the apparition of Our Lady to three small shepherds: Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia.

3. Fruits of the Fifth World Congress?

There were good results came out from Congress: Michal Hortz (Slovakian) the newly ellected president of world confederation. As many of us observed, including our Rector Major, was a very fast and good ellection unlike the previous one; the other fruit was the discussion and correction of the Statutes of world confederation which which was not spent much time thanks to the commission who was given mandate to do it before the Congress itself; then the last positive output was suggestions and proposals for the Strategic Plan for next period 2015-2021.

4. Any other sharing?

Other important moment which I valued much was sharing of the groups by linguistic. We (ITM) were mingled with the Portuguese and Bazilian. We made a kind of situational analysis focused on seven (7) important issues: world confederation organization, communication, formation, GEX (Young Alumni), Adults Alumni, financial question, and social commitment. The process was we each federation look back (2010-2015) what are the failures (weaknesses) then highlighted priorities and put them as commitment in the federation's lines of actions for the next 6 years.

We in our group we singled out at least three issues which should be given more importance to improve: communication (both world level and regional level), second is formation, and the third is social commitment.

5. Wishes for the EAO DB past pupils growth after wonderful interaction with other EAO delegates in Rome?

When we came together in such an occasion of meeting we use to interact more with those come from the same continent (it might be very subjective) than with those from the other region.

Fr. Manuel Pinto,SDB: Delegate for the DB Past Pupils, Timor Leste, ITM