We would like to introduce one of our youth members at MAG+S Timor-Leste, Mizie, who was a member of the latest MAG+Ser batch (10).
Following the completion of their Ignatian Spirituality program, most of her group members discerned to chose Mizie as the vice-leader of their group. Her role is to support the members of Batch 10 as they continue to practice their EXORA—Exercísio no Orasaun (Spiritual Exercises in Tetum).
After several weeks of serving as vice-leader, Mizie began to feel curious about the fruit of the discernment that had led to her being chosen as a leader. She brought this question into her Examen of Conscience prayer three to four times, from November to December last year.
One evening in December 2025, during a MAG+S Circle (a gathering when members share their life experiences, spiritual exercises, struggles, and reflections), Mizie shared her inner disposition and feelings about the role she had received. She expressed that she saw others who were more capable and mature than herself for this role, yet God had chosen her.
“I remember that after my members selected me as their vice-leader, I asked God, ‘Why me, instead of other members who are better and more mature?’ I brought this question to my Examen of Conscience several times, trying to understand God’s plan for me.”
While reflecting and praying on this question, she received a vision related to a pilgrimage.
“I had a vision about a pilgrimage. I kept asking God what this pilgrimage meant. The next time I continued with my Examen of Conscience, I envisioned my batch group members. I saw my friends walking together, and it brought me back to our Immersion experience (EMA 11).”
After she shared her vision, the leader of Batch 10, Auxilio, suddenly proposed planning a pilgrimage. During the group sharing, about six members agreed to take part in the pilgrimage, which would also mark the closing of the Year of Jubilee, Pilgrims of Hope.
On Monday morning, 5th January, we (including myself) gathered at Golgota, Comoro, Dili—to start our pilgrimage. On that day, the presence of Father Lan, SJ, the Coordinator of MAG+S Timor-Leste, who presided over the pilgrimage, made everyone feel accompanied and supported.
Mizie took the lead. There were 15 participants, including two other friends who joined our batch group for this pilgrimage. We started at 9:00 AM and finished at 12:00 noon.
After the pilgrimage, we went to Auxilio’s place to continue with our MAG+S Circle, where we shared our experiences of God during the journey. Everyone shared their stories and reflections based on three questions:
- How did we celebrate our Christmas?
- What is our hope for 2026?
- During the pilgrimage, how did we experience and see God?
Mizie was very grateful that everyone participated in the pilgrimage. What began as a personal question she had asked herself became a moment of shared grace. Throughout the sharing session, everyone expressed gratitude and reflected on how they saw God’s hand at work in each of us.
One of Mizie’s friends, a young man who joined us, openly shared that he did not believe in God or Jesus. For him, God was only an abstract idea. During the sharing, he spoke deeply about his struggles—family issues, personal identity, and other challenges. After the session, everyone felt blessed and thanked Mizie. Most importantly, her vision had touched and transformed him.
That night, Mizie sent us a message via WhatsApp with a testimony from her friend:
“I feel so blessed. My burden suddenly feels gone, and God is real. I don’t know why, but my problems feel solved. I hugged my father for the first time in my life, and we had a deep conversation.”
When we read the message, each one of us felt as though we had witnessed a miracle—as if one lost sheep had returned to its shepherd. As for Mizie, the fruits of her Ignatian discernment and the shared pilgrimage experience helped her to understand why God had chosen her to lead our group.
By:
Iriana Soares,
ETR Communications Officer