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The Society of Jesus is a community of priests and brothers dedicated to the service of God and the Church for the betterment of the world around us. Whatever our ministry — from university to parish to the service of the poor and refugees, our work is always for the glory of God and the help and salvation of souls.
Whether teaching, preaching, giving the sacraments, accompanying the poor or refugees, giving the Spiritual Exercises or praying for the Society, our voices are as varied as the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, but our message is the same: to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
If you would like to know more about the Jesuits or are considering applying to the Society of Jesus, contact Fr Lester Maramara SJ, Socius and Vocation Promoter, at etr.socius@gmail.com
The formation of East Timorese Jesuits follows the universal formation process of the Society of Jesus: Novitiate, Juniorate, Philosophy, Regency, Theology, and finally, Tertianship. It is at the end of Theology studies that a Jesuit scholastic is ordained a priest. In the case of a Jesuit Brother, a formation program is designed to suit the capacity of the Jesuit and the need of the Region or the Province to which the Jesuit Brother belongs.
Although the Society of Jesus began to accept local Timorese men in the late 1970s, it was not until 2002 that a Candidacy Program was introduced to recruit and prepare young men to enter the Novitiate. The Casa Gonzaga Jesuit Candidacy accepts young men who desire to discern their vocation to the Society of Jesus. In 2008, the Manresa Novitiate opened in Lahane, Dili. Prior to this, Novitiate formation was done in Indonesia and Singapore. From 2016, candidates are enrolled in two-year or four-year courses in the Instituto São João de Brito.
After two years of Novitiate formation, a novice professes his first and perpetual vows in the Society of Jesus. He then becomes a scholastic and begins formal studies in the Juniorate Program. Since 2014, the Timorese Juniors join other Jesuit Juniors in Sri Lanka for a year of English language studies and preparation for tertiary studies. After a year, the Junior proceeds to do his studies in Philosophy. Many Timorese scholastics go to Loyola College in Chennai, India, for this.
The formation of a Jesuit does not, however, end with his ordination to the priesthood. After a few years of pastoral work, preferably in his own country, the Jesuit is invited by his Superior to enter the final stage of formation called Tertianship. It is only upon completion of this final stage of the formation that he is invited for full and total incorporation to the Society of Jesus.
Casa Gonzaga Candidacy House
Journeying and accompanying the youth towards discernment of their vocation is an important apostolate for the Society of Jesus here in Timor-Leste. To prepare those who might one day devote their lives to the formation and mission of the Society of Jesus, we offer this formation house and programs for these potential candidates. Casa Gonzaga offers an integral formation which guides each candidate to delve deeper into himself and see where God is leading him to be a better person. The formation program in Casa Gonzaga prepares the candidates to listen to God’s call and to love and serve His people. In so doing, it will help prepare and form them to serve this new nation as a Jesuit or as a lay person with love and zeal for God and the people.
Father Venancio Calpotura, SJ, once said that “every person is a sculpture in the hands of the Creator.” Fr. Calpotura used to guide his retreatants by asking them to meditate and imagine themselves like a piece of sculpture being made as a masterpiece by the Master Sculptor, and being shaped moment by moment, which is a work in progress.
Casa Gonzaga as a house of formation aims to contribute to this work in progress. God chisels each formant-candidate as His masterpiece. Using that dynamic, candidacy program allows each masterpiece to deepen their encounter with God and share that meaningful experience to others and at the same time prepare themselves to be of service to others.
Manresa Novitiate House
The formation program in Manresa House is design to help the novices acquire the discipline and the habit of prayer, studies, work and community life. Apostolic engagement is also introduced in the program in order for the novices to have a taste of active ministry which they will also face as they progress in their formation.
There are experiments, usually a month-long, marked throughout the year which helps the novices to have a wider view of life and the many issues surrounding the church and society nowadays. It is hoped that the formation that they received will help them progress in terms of practice of discernment by finding the will of God in their lives.
Aside from the practice of discernment, the novices cultivate their devotion to Mary and Joseph. They have religious practices while in Manresa that help cultivate these devotions in order to shape their faith and vocation as well.