After two years of novitiate formation, I was finally able to profess my vows and become a full-fledged Jesuit in April 2025, together with two other novice companions, Edito and Lino. After taking vows, the three of us moved from the Novitiate Community to the Jesuit Community in Taibessi. A week later, Edito and I returned to Instituto São João de Brito (ISJB) to complete our academic formation as teachers, which we had put on hold because of our two years of Novitiate formation. It was an exhausting time because we began our final year three months after the rest of our classmates. We worked hard, striving to complete the ISJB requirements for some months, and I thank God that, although with limited time, I could finish everything well.
After completing our studies at ISJB, I, together with Edito and Lino, left for Manila on 29 January 2026 to continue our Jesuit formation. We were fetched at the airport by some Timorese scholastics, and they brought us to our new community at Loyola House of Studies. We were warmly welcomed by the community members who came from different countries and cultures, and we were introduced to the way of proceeding in the house. I was grateful to God for our safe travel and the assurances of prayers from families and friends in Timor Leste. At the same time, I was thrilled to begin another stage in my Jesuit life in a new place, where I easily felt a sense of home, belonging, and brotherhood.
Having lived in Manila for a month now, I realize that I am stepping into a new and unfamiliar experience that calls me to adjust, adapt, and be open to learning. In terms of studies, after taking the English proficiency test, I am now attending an English course at Loyola School of Theology (LST). I am hopeful that it will equip me with the communication, listening, and writing skills I will need in my future studies.
Photo: Sch. Inacio, SJ with Timorese Jesuits at the Loyola House of Studys and Loyola School of Theology, Manila Philippine. He stands in the middle of Sch. Edito, SJ and Sch. Felix, SJ in white t-shirt.
As I ponder deeply on my life after Novitiate and this first month in Manila, I feel that the Society of Jesus is truly universal. At Loyola House of Studies, we are people with a variety of characters, coming from different nations, who stay together as brothers in one family. It is not always easy, but I continue to ask for the grace of humility to be aware of and accept others as gifts from God. Indeed, I appreciate most the different cultures and the way people express themselves through their culture; it really helps me to see God in other people instead of comparing myself with them.
At the same time, I am also learning to recognise both the opportunities and challenges of living in a multicultural community. I always try to act and speak carefully to other people, trying not to hurt other brothers unintentionally. Sometimes I am afraid and feel insecure in relating to them, assuming that maybe they will get angry with me for doing something wrong.
In Manila, I am really enjoying our apostolic life because I have the opportunity to be involved in a variety of apostolates on Saturday or Sunday: visiting people in hospital or in rural areas, where I can experience more deeply the real life of the people of God. It sustains me a lot in my vocation to know that God calls me to serve those in need. On a more basic level, the food here is different from what I am used to; this challenges me, but I try to adjust to this change too.
I have also discovered that life after the Novitiate is really a call to practice discernment. The freedom that I have now as a scholastic often requires me to tap into my ability to discern. No one is checking whether I pray and study or not, but I have to be responsible for myself and for my own growth, using my time in the best possible way, guided by my own initiative. Therefore, I thank God for my formation in the Novitiate, which helped me to know and accept myself as I am, and to challenge myself to grow independently, not just as an obligation to follow some rules, but as part of my way of proceeding as a Jesuit.
Photo: Sch. Inacio, SJ in Manila, Philippine.
In conclusion, I can truly say that I feel here the care and support of my new community, both from my brother Jesuits and our house staff and collaborators. Because of the love that we share, I haven’t felt lonely. I look forward to integrating myself more into the life of the community and hope that this new community will create a better environment for me, specifically for my study and continuing formation.
Written by: Sch. Inácio Edu Fátima Martins, S.J.