Remarkable Moments on the Last Two Days of July 2024 for the East Timor Region of the Society of Jesus
On July 30-31, 2024, the Jesuits of the East Timor Region (ETR) celebrated two significant milestones, namely, “the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the 125th anniversary of the Jesuit mission in Soibada, Manatuto, Timor-Leste. In addition, it was also the celebration of the 25 years of Fr. Joaquim Sarmento, SJ, as the first […]
“MAG+S has guided me from a life of darkness to a life of light”.
As a participant in the batch 9th in MAG+S Timor-Leste community this year. Initially, my motivation for joining MAG+S was simple: I wanted to share my experiences and learn from others. I had a limited understanding of this community and no specific goals for completing the program. I simply went with the flow. However, as […]
Celebrating a Decade of Transformation: JSS WASH Program
For over a decade, JSS has been at the forefront of change in local communities through its Water and Hygiene program, and for the last three years in 2021 the JSS started added more the Sanitation Program to support the community. Under the dedicated leadership of Maun Aje, the program has made significant strides towards […]
“Six Months Immersed in Brazilian Life: A Personal Experience”
I arrived in Brazil at the end of December, 2023 with Nelson. Soon after our arrival I perceived everything especially as mysterious from the language, culture, my life and of course theological courses offered in Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia (FAJE). This perception impels my soul to seek for deeper meaning in my life […]
An internal journey toward God’s transformative call
An internal journey toward God’s transformative call Since I started my journey here in the Philippines on November 11, 2023, up to now, I have been invited to explore the beauty of being religious through the different tasks I have been given. As a new member of the community, I received a lot of assignments, […]
“From Solitude to Solidarity: The Role of Companionship in Spiritual Exercises”
Before becoming a team leader, I was a participant. In 2020, I embarked on a journey of spiritual growth by becoming involved with the Jesuit community as a participant in the Mag+s-TL program. Initially, I couldn’t complete my formation due to an internship in the municipality. However, in 2021, I resumed my formation and proudly […]
Promoting Child Safeguarding in Timor-Leste: A Workshop Recap
As Mr. Simon Davies, JCAP Conference Delegate for Safeguarding, explained, “Safeguarding it’s not only written document that you need to do for your institution, but it’s a reality that we need to carry lifetime as our culture.” The leaders of the Jesuits Institutions in Timor-Leste gathered for a workshop on Child Safeguarding, facilitated by Mr. […]
JSS: Food Security Program Updates
The Food Security Program is one of the various programs of the Jesuit Social Service (JSS) of Timor-Leste. It began its implementation in 2022 through community consultation, and has implemented activities last year. The program works directly with community members and schools to focus on the area of agriculture. The main objective of the project […]
Road to the Celebration of 125 Years of Jesuit Presence: Our Journey and Preparations in Timor-Leste
Preparations for the 125th anniversary of the Jesuit mission in Timor-Leste are well underway, led by the dedicated efforts of our MAG+S Timor-Leste youth community. This significant milestone marks a moment of reflection and celebration for all of us, culminating in years of service and spiritual dedication. Now entrusted with organizing this historic event, we […]
“Humanity Comes First” – Sch. Nelson Marques, SJ
Hello from Brazil! Antonito Martins, Domingos Gomes, and I are doing well here. In this June 2024 edition of the ETR newsletter, I’m excited to share a significant moment from my studies at Jesuit Faculty of Philosophy and Theology (FAJE). Our curriculum covers Fundamental Theology, the Gospel of Mark, the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Prophetic Books and, Christian Doctrine. (Portuguese; […]