By Fr. Ramoncito Padilla, SDB

Venilale, East Timor - The Salesian World first heard of the name of a place called Venilale (a town with several districts) during the Salesian Mission Day 1990, when all SDB worldwide prayed and extended their contributions for the beginning of the Salesian of Don Bosco’s presence in the town. In that year all the village chiefs agreed to donate to the Salesian Missions a very large piece of land in one of the best spots of the town viewing beautiful mountains and plains. In the beginning, there were some houses in the sight, gardens, trees owned by people, and even a small cemetery, but they were all transferred to other places, with the generous people asking for no recompense at all from the Salesians. From then on the SDBs have worked with tireless energy to build up people and structures.

Since Venilale was a missionary center before, a simple and modest chapel was there already for the people, most of whom were Catholics. With the approval of the Baucan diocesan Bishop, Basilio do Nascimento, Venilale became a Parish, and the chapel later on became the Parish Church in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the year of his beatification, An Aspirantate for junior high school students was also built in honor of Blessed Phillip Rinaldi (Colegio Pre-Aspirantado Beato Filipe Rinaldi), where many of our present Timorese Salesians had studied, and many more are now occupying important positions in society. There are at present 168 Junior High School Aspirants, receiving their education and formation, hoping that many of them will follow Don Bosco. In the villages within the Parish there were several schools constructed where even the poorest of the poor children can receive education. From the beginning there is an important presence of the FMA Sisters who have been collaborating with the Salesians in caring and housing the war orphans, especially during the Indonesian occupation, and many other poor children. They now also have their own Aspirantate, and a St. Mary Mazarello Vocational Secondary School for girls recognized by the government.

The Salesian Family has also been on the increase in Venilale. The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) was started in 1995 and last July 12 the first ten members of the Association of the Salesian Cooperators made their promise. Many of the lay members of the Salesian Family are not only proud to be in the Family, but also contribute to the building of the new nation as “good Christians and honest citizens”. Many are officials in government and active members of lay associations in the Parish.

About 70 Alumni of the Pre-Aspirantado Beato Filipe Rinaldi had their First Congress to form the Association of the Past Pupils during the three-day Celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Salesians’ Presence. Their official name was given: Assosiasaun Antigos Alunos Don Rinaldi Venilale (AAADRV) with their motto: Together in the past, in the present and in the future: serving the Church and the Nation' and election of their officers. They also took the occasion to encourage the present generations of students in the Junior Aspirantate to be serious in their formation and studies to be good Salesians and successful Timorese citizens of the future.

The Silver Jubilee Celebrations started on July 16, where the Superiors and Junior Aspirants welcomed the guests who came from all over Timor, especially the Alumni of the Junior Aspirantate for their First Congress of the Past Pupils of the Pre-Aspirantat with an inspirational talk by Fr. Agostinho de Jesus Soares, one of the first Salesian priests assigned to Venilale, and a welcome speech by a deputy minister, Mr. Manuel Castro.

On July 17th after the opening address from the Provincial, Fr. Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, the Alumni Congress continued the whole day. After supper, an Academy (literary-musical program) was presented by the Aspirants to the delight and enjoyment of all.

On July 18th was the Silver Jubilee Eucharistic Celebrations, presided by the SDB Provincial, concelebrated by ten other priests. Fr. Viriglio invited all present to thank the Lord in a special way for the Salesians’ presence in Venilale and all the kind people who helped the Salesians in the realization of their mission. Fr. Provincial also encouraged them to be one mind and one soul with the Salesians in the work for the good of all the people in the town, especially the young. The Mass was also offered in memory of the souls of two great Italian Salesian Missionaries who died in Timor, Fr. Luigi de Pretto (Venilale’s first Rector and Parish Priest) and the Salesian Brother Carlo Gamba.

The last activity was the blessing of the cornerstone in the Aspirantate where the Past Pupils are planning to place a statue of Blessed Philip Rinaldi as a sign of their gratitude for the 25th year of existence of their beloved Alma Mater. At the end there was a fraternal Agape, in which everyone had a taste of the most delicious food that can be served only in East Timor, and also of the family togetherness typical of every Salesian house.