Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS HOMILY in TASI-TOLU, DILI
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS Esplanade of Tasi-Tolu (Dili, Timor Leste)Tuesday, 10 September 2024 _________________________ “A child has been born for us, a son given to us” (Is 9:6). With these words, in the first reading, the prophet Isaiah addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It was a prosperous time for that city, but sadly also characterized by […]
Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS MEETING WITH BISHOPS, PRIESTS, DEACONS, CONSECRATED PERSONS, SEMINARIANS AND CATECHISTS
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Dili, Timor Leste)Tuesday, 10 September 2024 ___________________________ Dear brother Bishops,Dear priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians,Dear catechists, brothers and sisters, good morning! Many of the youngest – seminarians, young religious – remained outside. And now, when I saw the bishop, I told him that he has […]
Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS VISIT TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OF THE IRMÃS ALMA SCHOOL
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS Irmãs Alma School (Dili, Timor Leste)Tuesday, 10 September 2024 ___________________________ There is one thing that always makes me think. When Jesus talks about the final judgement, he says to some people: “Come with me”, but he does not say: “Come with me because you were baptized, because you were confirmed, because […]
Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS Presidential Palace Hall (Dili, Timor Leste)Monday, 9 September 2024 ___________________________ Mr President,Mr Prime Minister,Distinguished members of the Government and Diplomatic Corps,Your Eminence, dear brother Bishops,Representatives of Civil Society,Ladies and Gentlemen! I thank you for the kind and joyful welcome to this beautiful country of Timor-Leste. I am grateful to the President, […]
Celebrating St. Ignatius of Loyola: A Special Pilgrimage to Soibada
On July 31st, we commemorated the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, an important occasion for the community of Colégio de Santo Inácio de Loyola (CSIL) Kasait, Timor-Leste. This year, our celebration was particularly special as we had the unique opportunity to join the Ignatian family and collaborators of the Jesuit mission in East […]
A Heartfelt Journey: Reflections on My Volunteering Experience
From July 10 to August 6, 2024, I had the privilege of volunteering at the Finance Office of the Instituto São João de Brito (ISJB). As a Certified Public Accountant with 30 years of experience, this was a unique opportunity for me to offer my skills not for professional gain, but for a profoundly meaningful […]
Rediscovering Our Jesuit Identity: A Call to Embrace Our Origins
July proved to be a particularly eventful month for us. After the intensity of our exams, we enjoyed a well-deserved semester break, which took us to the vibrant city of São Paulo, Brazil. Our visit included a profoundly moving experience at Esperança (“Hope”), an old age home where a staff member’s words resonated deeply with […]
A Journey of Growth and Gratitude: Reflections on My Two-Months Home Visit in East Timor
Dear Friends in Christ, I am thrilled to share with you the profound experiences and insights I gained during my recent two-months home visit to East Timor. This journey was not only a return to my homeland but also a deeply enriching period of learning, personal growth, and spiritual renewal that has significantly shaped my […]
Commemorating 125 Years of Jesuit Mission in Timor-Leste: Gratitude and Honor for The Past, Cherishing the Present With Love And, Anticipating The Future With Hope
Every year, on July 31, the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits, celebrates the feast day of its founder St. Ignatius of Loyola. This celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the grace and vocation that God bestowed upon St. Ignatius, as well as his dedication and courage in fully committing himself to […]
“Ignatian Spirituality” and the Discernment of God’s Will and Ways
What is “Ignatian Spirituality”? Many of us who have heard of “Ignatian Spirituality” or have done the “Examen” prayer, would immediately respond, Ah I know – It is “Finding God in All Things.” Yes, I agree, but how have we experienced this “Finding God in All Things, and especially in our different ways of trying […]