From: TLS SocCom

Fatumaca, 15 August 2023 – On the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, at the National Shrine of Fatumaca, His Eminence Virgílio Cardinal do Carmo da Silva, SDB presided over the Eucharistic celebration and conferred upon three Salesian deacons i.e. Filipe Cardoso Sarmento, Filomeno Martins Belo, and Juvito Freitas Gama, the sacred order of the presbyters.

Before the Mass, there was a welcoming ceremony for the new bishop of Baucau where thousand faithful gathered in front of the church and Fr Anacleto gratefully welcomed Bishop Leandro Maria Alves, guaranteeing the readiness, obedience, and collaboration from the Salesians as well as the Salesian Family in the diocese of Baucau. It is God’s blessing for the church of Timor-Leste and TLS vice-province. It was a special event with the presence of our newly consecrated bishop of Baucau, His Grace Leandro Maria Alves and his General Vicar, Rev Fr Alípio Pinto, two Salesian priests from the Australian province and some 50 concelebrant priests, families of three newly ordained priests, students, young people, other religious sisters, pre-novices, novices and members of the Salesian family.

In the homily, the Salesian prelate invited the people to look at Mary as she assumed into heaven and follow Mary’s footsteps with great diligence and purity of heart, so that one day we may enjoy God’s beatitudes; and just like three young men have said their ‘yes’ to God to walk in this way, the way of God and they become God’s own.

Let us pray for our new priests as they embark on their ministry of priesthood, with God’s grace they may be holy priests for God’s holy people.

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