Timor Leste

By Fr. J Mota, SDB

Fatumaca, Timor-Leste, 10 December 2019 -- On 7 December, 2019 at the National Shrine at Fatumaca, TLS Vice-Province superior, Fr Apolinário Neto, SDB, in the name of the Rector Major, received fifteen brave young men in their first religious profession as Salesians of Don Bosco. Out of these young men, two professed as Salesian brothers. This solemn event started with Mass celebrated by the acting-Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia and Timor Leste, Msgr. Marco Sprizzi, the First Councillor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Apostolic Nunciature in Malaysia. It was a great opportunity for him (he was our past pupil and went to oratory way back in Messina, Italy), to preside over the Mass together with more than 30 Salesians and diocesan priests, sisters, families of the newly professed Salesians and the faithful.

As the homilist, Fr Apolinário delivered the message of gratitude for God’s blessings to the Salesian Family, the SDB congregation, families of the newly professed and the young people. On the other hand, he ardently encouraged the families, most especially the parents, to be continuous collaborators of God in His plan of salvation and to become also the first co-operators in the mission of the congregation. After the final blessings, Msgr. Sprizzi was also given the opportunity to introduce himself and express his grateful feeling to be 'back home' again. Mgr. Sprizzi also told the story of missionaries from the West, especially from Italy, just like Fr. Locatelli, who went to mission lands to proclaim the Gospel and helped in building the communities for a better life. Therefore, he encouraged the newly professed Salesians to become a good Salesian and a good missionary as well.

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