We are thrilled to share with you the inspiring story of the dedicated Cartório (Civil Registry Office) staff in Railaco, Ermera. Committed to serving the community with humility, faith and professionalism, the team reflects on their experiences, challenges and how their work is intertwined with their spiritual journey.
A Commitment to Service: Pedro and Anatolia’s Journey
Pedro Madeira da Conceição Salsinha and Anatolia Carvalho, both long-time members of the Cartório team, have been at the forefront of administrative work in Railaco. Through their services, they have faced numerous challenges, yet their unwavering faith and dedication to the community have been a guiding force in overcoming these obstacles.
Pedro, 66, began working in the Cartório under Fr. Joseph Nguyen Thanh Phuong, SJ, in 2011. In 2020, he continued to serve under Fr. Erik John, SJ, the new priest parish. He is now presently under the mentorship of Fr. Encarnaçao Roberto Madeira, SJ, who took over as parish priest beginning February this year. Pedro has had major obstacles during his career, particularly with document fraud and tough parishioners. He declared, “Some Christians attempt to create false documents or have negative behaviors, causing our job more difficult. But we remain in order to serve God and others.”
Despite these challenges, Pedro highlights the value of teamwork and faith. He describes the work environment as helpful and peaceful, with coworkers who appreciate and care for one another. “We help each other, and that’s what makes the job manageable,” Pedro shares.
Pedro emphasized the significance of spiritual practices in their daily work. Since working under Fr. Roberto, SJ, each day at noon, the Cartório crew unites to pray the Angelus, which Pedro believes helps maintain team peace and solidarity. Additionally, monthly retreats provide employees with opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation, which Pedro believes is critical for developing stronger Christian values both at work and at home.
Anatolia, on the other hand, is 32 and joined the Cartório crew in 2019 after years of working as a cook for the Jesuits. While Anatolia’s function has mostly been administrative—serving parishioners and assisting with document corrections—she faces comparable obstacles. “It can be overwhelming at times,” she acknowledges, “especially when dealing with different attitudes and expectations in the community.” But I always strive to remain calm and deal with every scenario patiently.”
Anatolia describes the Cartório as a family-like environment, where mutual respect and care create a supportive atmosphere for all staff members. She also credits the Jesuit retreats for helping her grow spiritually and personally. “The retreats help us reflect on our personal character. It has not only improved our teamwork, but also our relationships with our families,” she shares.
Like Pedro, Anatolia sees the daily Angelus prayer as essential to maintaining peace and unity at work. The practice of praying together allows the team to stay focused on their spiritual mission of service to the community.
Both Pedro and Anatolia agree that spiritual practices have played a vital role in their work. The monthly retreats organized by the Jesuits have been life-changing, helping the staff grow not only in their professional capacity but also in their faith. “These retreats help us connect deeper with God, and this strengthens our ability to serve the community with love and compassion,” says Anatolia.
The team’s commitment to service goes beyond their professional roles. They are always ready to help parishioners with document requests, corrections, and registrations—often working long hours to ensure everything is processed accurately. Anatolia shared that on busy days, the Cartório staff serves 20–30 people, processing documents like Certidões (certificates), with the total number of documents handled to date nearing 15,000.
While the work is challenging, both Pedro and Anatolia are optimistic about the future of the Cartório. Pedro hopes that by 2025, issues like document forgery will be minimized, and that the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Diocese of Dili will offer further support to ensure the Cartório’s longevity and effectiveness.
Anatolia also looks forward to the future, hoping to see continued growth in the way the team serves the parishioners. She is excited about the ongoing Christmas Cup event, which began November 12 and will finish December 20 in the Railaco Parish. This new initiative aims to bring the community together during the Christmas season, fostering a spirit of celebration and unity.
The Cartório staff is deeply grateful to the donors who have supported their work. Pedro and Anatolia both expressed heartfelt thanks for the assistance they continue to receive, is crucial in helping their families and sustaining their efforts. “Your generosity has helped us improve our lives and continue to serve the community,” says Pedro.
Through their work, Pedro and Anatolia embody the Jesuit values of service, compassion and spiritual growth. Despite the challenges they face, their dedication to serving others, guided by their faith, remains steadfast.
By: Iriana Soares (Source; Pedro and Anatolia)