For the first time in history the EAO provincials come together in Timor Leste
Dili, Timor Leste, 4 March 2018 -- One month after the departure of the Rector Major from Dili all provincials and delegation superiors came for the first historical EAO meeting in Timor Leste. Some of them already arrived earlier in order to explore this youngest country of Asia (2002) with 1.3 million of population and 130 SDB of Timorese origin (indeed the highest concentration of the SDB around the world!). Together with the Philippines also Timor Leste is great majority a Catholic country (95%) with most of those baptized after 1975.
The five day event (March 5-9) is held in the Dili, Comoro SDB Provincial house, with participants distributed in three locations (SDB Provincial house, Comoro CenTec community and FMA guest house). Morning and evening prayers of the Provincials are held in Dili Postnovitiate of Blessed Artemide Zatti Community (Rector Fr. Manuel Pinto with 7 formators and 24 postnovices), that offers a unique opportunity of missionary animation for all EAO Superiors especially from mission places like Pakistan, Cambodia, Mongolia, Pacific, Macau and Japan.
The main theme of 2018 annual meeting of the provincials is Accompaniment of the provincial processes for the growth of Salesian charism. After the initial day of personal sharing (how are you?) and recollection, the participants will share about each sector of Salesian life and mission (formation, youth ministry, social communication, missions, economy etc) with a special attention for the growth of Salesian Family - with the presence of World delegate for the Don Bosco Past Pupils Fr. Jayapalan. On the third day afternoon is prepared an outing around the capital of Dili, that inlcudes also a short stop over in the house of Dili Bishop, Virgilio Da Silva, SDB.
After the world wide pilgrimage of Don Bosco relics (2009-2014), according the members of the logistics team (Torino) this tiny country of Timor Leste probably offered the most enthusiatic and felt welcome to our Saint. First SDB community entered Dili in 1927 with future Saint Martyr Callistus Caravario, during the dark period of Timor Leste (1975 - 1999) the Salesian were always very close to the local population and contributed in many ways to the growth of the Catholic Church. The most senior Salesian priest, Fr. Joao de Deus (90 years old missionary from Portugal) himself baptized about 80.000 faithful during the difficult times before independence in 2002).
The participants of Dili EAO meeting are requesting your prayers!
