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 the expansion of God’s kingdom. St. Ignatius was a person who completely surrendered himself to God, ready to make any sacrifice for His greater glory. He devoted his entire life to God’s service.
This July 31, 2024, the Jesuit community of Timor, along with collaborators, benefactors, and the local community, celebrated the 125th anniversary of Jesuit presence in Timor-Leste. This took place at the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Soibada. Located in the Leohaat sub-district along the Maklo’uk River in the Manatutu Municipality, Soibada represents the beginning of Jesuit mission work in Timor-Leste as it is where the first Jesuit mission was conducted by Fr. Sebastião Maria Aparicio da Silva, SJ, in 1897. Despite only being present for ten years the Jesuits have already made a significant impact, imparting wisdom and faith in the Triune God to many Timorese people. The seeds they planted in Soibada have grown and flourished with God’s grace.
As a Novice, I am deeply grateful to the Triune God for calling me and guiding me to cultivate the seeds of vocation within the Society of Jesus. Following St. Ignatius’s teachings, I strive to serve wholeheartedly for the greater glory of God. During a recent pilgrimage themed “The Road to Conversion,” I reflected on St. Ignatius’s life and sought to understand how God’s love transformed him, leading him to dedicate his life to serving and dying for the Lord. I prayed for the grace to love Christ more, serve as St. Ignatius did, and deepen my love for Jesus.
Through the Lord’s grace, I have experienced God’s generosity and compassionate love, evident in the beauty of nature and in the people accompanying me on this spiritual journey. God continues to ignite my heart with the fire of conversion, inspiring me to look to Our Lady as a model of vocation and faith, and to respond affirmatively to His call. Christ guides me in loving and persevering for God the Father.
The celebration of 125 years of Jesuit presence in Timor brings me profound joy and spiritual consolation. It prompts me to reflect with gratitude and honor for the past, to cherish the present with love, and to anticipate the future with hope. I am thankful to God for providing grace and courage to the missionaries who established the kingdom of God among us, despite the challenges faced in Soibada. This milestone serves as a new source of inspiration for those of us engaged in Ignatian spirituality, encouraging us to foster collaboration, love, and dedicated service in our mission. It reminds us to truly love and serve our culture.
Participating in the anniversary celebration filled my heart with joy and deep gratitude to God, who has called me to experience His love and mercy within the Society of Jesus. It ignited a greater passion for serving His glory and instilled a hopeful vision for the future. I pray that through the intercession of Our Lady of Aitara, we can cultivate a culture of love and service in all aspects of our lives, reflecting God’s greater glory.
AMDG.
By: Leolino Alves Madeira Barros, Novice-Society of Jesus