austraLasia #3194
FATUMACA: 14 February 2103 -- With 17 Timorese already around the world as missionaries, there is little wonder that the Missions Councillor, Fr Klement, has chosen some time to visit the Timorese part of the ITM Vice Province. He is spending six days there.
Other than the visit to Comoro and the Provincial House, where he was able to celebrate the Ash Wednesday ceremony, Fr Klement quickly moved on to Fatunaca, the cradle of initial formation for Saelsian East Timor. The postnovitiate is in Dili, Comoro, where the new constructed postnovitiate quarters are now in full use.
Of course, young Salesians are always very interested in the broader Salesian world, so many questions on the missions, how things are in other parts of the world, Europe for example, which is struggling for novices by comparison. Fr Klement noted that one of the novices is a convert from the Muslim faith. There can't be too many of those elsewhere around the globe.
He also notes some interesting changes over the six year period since his last visit: Portuguese seems to have regained strength as a language, with a little less English than he had previously noted; a much more evident stability overall, in social and political terms, and people generally better dressed. But he also notes that in the villages, no great differences are apparent, and not all health concerns (especially hepatitis) have yet been overcome.
Fatumaca is something of a complete Salesian presence with just about all sectors and activities involved:
Primary and secondary school for the children/youth from nearby villages
Secondary technical school soon to become a Polytechnic University, 6 sections (mechanics, woodwork, electronics, electricity, automechanics..)
Community radio (managed by the novices and STS students)
Boarding house for 200 students
Aspirantate SDB
Novitiate SDB
Social and agricultural work in the 15 villages of our Parish
Shrine of Mary Help of Christians
ADMA associations branch
Past pupils of Don Bosco branch, now actively preparing the 50th anniversary.
The Golden Jubilee for Fatumaca will take place in 2014, and well-known local identity, Fr Locatelli will be celebrating with it. Fr Locatelli was born in France, made his novitiate in Italy, spent some time in Goa as a cleric and was ordained in Portugal, in 1964, soon after which he moved to East Timor.
Fatumaca, East Timor ITM
Other than the visit to Comoro and the Provincial House, where he was able to celebrate the Ash Wednesday ceremony, Fr Klement quickly moved on to Fatunaca, the cradle of initial formation for Saelsian East Timor. The postnovitiate is in Dili, Comoro, where the new constructed postnovitiate quarters are now in full use.
Of course, young Salesians are always very interested in the broader Salesian world, so many questions on the missions, how things are in other parts of the world, Europe for example, which is struggling for novices by comparison. Fr Klement noted that one of the novices is a convert from the Muslim faith. There can't be too many of those elsewhere around the globe.
He also notes some interesting changes over the six year period since his last visit: Portuguese seems to have regained strength as a language, with a little less English than he had previously noted; a much more evident stability overall, in social and political terms, and people generally better dressed. But he also notes that in the villages, no great differences are apparent, and not all health concerns (especially hepatitis) have yet been overcome.
Fatumaca is something of a complete Salesian presence with just about all sectors and activities involved:
Primary and secondary school for the children/youth from nearby villages
Secondary technical school soon to become a Polytechnic University, 6 sections (mechanics, woodwork, electronics, electricity, automechanics..)
Community radio (managed by the novices and STS students)
Boarding house for 200 students
Aspirantate SDB
Novitiate SDB
Social and agricultural work in the 15 villages of our Parish
Shrine of Mary Help of Christians
ADMA associations branch
Past pupils of Don Bosco branch, now actively preparing the 50th anniversary.
The Golden Jubilee for Fatumaca will take place in 2014, and well-known local identity, Fr Locatelli will be celebrating with it. Fr Locatelli was born in France, made his novitiate in Italy, spent some time in Goa as a cleric and was ordained in Portugal, in 1964, soon after which he moved to East Timor.
