4 new Salesian Priests in Timor-Leste

By Fr. Joao Costa, SDB

Fatumaca , Timor-Leste, 15 August 2017 -- On the occasion of the Solemnity of the Assumption of our Lady, the Salesian Vice-Province of Indonesia-Timor, particularly in Timor-Leste was blessed with the priestly ordination of our five confreres. The newly ordained priests are Fr. Venancio Fatima Freitas, Fr. Julio da Silva Mota, Fr. Matias Mendonça Pinto, Fr. Jacinto Tadeu Gusmão and Fr. Isaias Bonifacio. The ordination took place in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Fatumaca, Baucau, Timor-Leste. The ordaining prelate was bishop Basilio do Nascimento, the diocesan Bishop of Baucau diocese. The celebration was attended by thousands of the lay faithful including the former president of Timor-Leste, his Excellency Taur Matan Ruak.

The celebration began with traditional parade wherein the ordinandi dressed in traditional attire accompanied with their families and loved ones towards the front part of the Church. The objective of this traditional parade is for the families to officially hand over their sons to congregation and the church. Then, the Solemn Mass of the ordination followed. The Eucharistic celebration and the ordination lasted for three hours. In the homily, the bishop encourages the ordinandi to imitate the example of our Blessed Mother in praising the Lord for great things He has done. The ordination terminated with agape meal and other entertainment renditions.

Short Biographies of Newly Ordained Priests:

• Fr. Venancio was born in Viqueque (the southern part of the country), on the 9th of December 1983. He graduated from Don Bosco Secondary Agricultural School of Fuiloro, Lospalos, Timor-Leste. He then began his aspirantate and pre-novitiate formation in Don Bosco, Fuiloro. In 2005, he started his novitiate formation in the novitiate house at Don Bosco Fatumaca. He made first profession as a salesian on July 24, 2006. He proceeded with Philosophical Studies in the inter-Diocesan Seminary in Dili, Timor-Leste. Form the year 2009-2011, he made his practical training in the minor seminary of Blessed Philip Rinaldi in Venilale, Baucau. Then, he was sent to Seminario ng Don Bosco Paranaque for his theological formation at Don Bosco Center of Studies. He was ordained as a deacon on the 24th of June 2015. Currently he is assigned in Fuiloro as the in-charge of the elementary and high school of Don Bosco Fuiloro.


• Fr. Julio Mota was born in Uatu-Carbau, Viqueque, on the 18th of July 1986. He began his seminary formation at Blessed Philip Rinaldi Aspirantate Venilale, Baucau in 1999. He graduated from Salesian Aspirantate of Don Bosco Fatumaca in 2005. He made his pre-novitiate formation in Don Bosco Lospalos. He proceeded with novitiate formation in Fatumaca and made his first profession on the 24th of July 2007. He studied philosophy in the inter-diocesan seminary in Dili. He, then, made his practical training in aspirantate Venilale. He was sent to Manila for his Theological Formation. He made his perpetual vow as a salesian on May 1, 2014. He was ordained deacon on June 24, 2016. Currently he is assigned in the post-novitiate community.


• Fr. Matias was born in Dili, on April 17, 1983. He graduated from Canossian High School. He then entered Salesian Aspirantate in Fatumaca. He made his novitiate formation in Fatumaca and was professed as a salesian on July 24, 2005. He made his philosophical studies in Sekolah Tinggi Filasafat Driyarkara Jakarata, Indonesia. In 2008, he was sent to Don Bosco Lospalos for his practical training as an assistant for the orphans and pre-novices. He did his theology in Don Bosco Center of Studies, Paranque, Philippines. He made perpetual vow on May 1, 2014. He was ordained as a deacon at the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians Paranaque on June 24, 2016. He is now as the in-charge of the Salesian Aspirantate in Don Bosco Fatumaca.


• Fr. Jacinto Tadeu Gusmã was born in Baguia, Baucau on September 2, 1980. He graduated from Saint Anthony Senior High School Baucau. He made his aspirantate and pre-novitiate formation in Don Bosco Fatumaca. On July 24, 2005 he made his first profession as a salesian cleric. He was sent to Jakarta, Indonesia for his philosophical studies. He practical training formation was carried in Don Bosco Agricultural School of Don Bosco Fuiloro. He did his theological studies in Don Bosco Center of Studies. He made perpetual vow as a Salesian on May 1, 2013. He was ordained as a deacon on April 29, 2014. His current assignment is in Don Bosco Boys Home Quelicai, Baucau as in the charge of the boarding house and as assistant parish priest of Quelicai Parish.


• Fr. Isaias Bonifacio was born in Bercoli, Venilale on September 14, 1984. He began his formation in the Salesian Minor Seminary Blessed Philip Rinaldi Venilale. He then proceeded to Salesian Aspirantate of Fatumaca Baucau. In 2003, he began his novitiate formation and made his first vow as a Salesian on July 24, 2004. He went to Jakarta, Indonesia for his Philosophical studies. From 2007-2009, he made his practical training in Don Bosco Technical School Fatumaca. He also spent one year of practical training in Don Bosco Agricultural School of Fuiloro. In 2011, he was sent to Rome for doing his theology in Salesian Pontifical University (UPS). He graduated with licentiate in theology in the area of Spirituality. He made his perpetual vows on May 2, 2013. He was ordained as a deacon on June 21, 2014. Presently, he is assigned as the formator in-charge of the pre-novices and as well as youth ministry coordinator in the community of Don Bosco Lospalos.

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