It’s hard to believe that it was 20 years ago when the Jesuit Mission in Timor-Leste established the Mobile Clinic in Railaco to serve God’s people, not only through pastoral work but also by helping the community physically. In 2004, the Mobile Clinic began its work to assist the community around Railaco, who face obstacles accessing government hospitals or clinics.
Two decades ago, Fr. Bong, SJ, and Fr. Samuel, SJ (also known as Fr. Dizon), began thinking about ways to do outreach—not only spiritually but physically through pastoral work. “The Mobile Clinic is the result of our efforts to reach out to the local community in Railaco. It’s not just about the spiritual side but also supporting them physically in accessing medicine and healthcare. We also established a feeding program for children in remote areas around Railaco as part of our pastoral work,” declared Fr. Bong, SJ.
He continued to explain, “We cover 7 areas in Railaco, 5 in Liquiça, and 1 in Aileu, we can’t visit mostly twice a month, a few once a month. We don’t go to all the villages in Railaco, just those in certain areas that cannot access government clinics.”
Fr. Bong, SJ, is grateful for doing his pastoral work in Railaco, bringing essential services to the people. Not only does he offer spiritual care, but thanks to his medical background, he is able to provide medical treatment as well. He thanks God for this. “I thank God for the education I have received, because it helps me with my pastoral work as both a priest and a doctor,” he stated.
As the Mobile Clinic continues to support the community in Railaco, we pray that this mission will continue to serve the local people and remain sustainable. All of this is made possible because of the generous contributions from our donors, who helped start and sustain the program. The Mobile Clinic began with five staff members: Lani, a nurse from the Philippines; Fr. Bong as the doctor; one driver; and two assistants to handle administrative work. To date, Fr. Bong works alongside four other staff members: two in administration work and two in healthcare. He also serves as a driver.
Despite its success, Fr. Bong, SJ, faces several challenges in his pastoral work, such as helping people understand the importance of their health. “The challenges are mostly about how we can show people why we are running the Mobile Clinic, prioritizing their health, and convincing them to make it a priority in their lives. It takes time for people to realize the value of education and health,” affirmed Fr. Bong, SJ.
He continued to express his gratitude to the Lord Jesus for guiding his work in this mission and making it successful throughout his pastoral journey. “So far, I have seen this mission as a life that God has given me, rather than my personal mission. I don’t measure the success of the Mobile Clinic; I rely on the Lord, as this is simply the fruit of discernment that in this work is from God. He is the one who sustains us. I am convinced that the Lord has blessed us and guided us during all this time. For more than 20 years, we began and have been sustained mainly through the help of the St. Canice Parish of Sydney, from the previous parish priest. Fr. Steve Sinn. SJ, to the present. Fr. David Braithwaite, SJ, and the many parishioners headed by Michael Musgrave, the St. Canice ambassador to Railaco.”
Fr. Bong has been the only doctor since the beginning of the Mobile Clinic, with some occasional volunteers often from Australia and one from New Zealand and one from Philippines. Fr. Bong is a Jesuit missionary from the Philippines who arrived in Timor-Leste two decades ago, in 2002. He explained how the clinic operates when he is away: “When I do my annual retreat or go home to the Philippines, the clinic remains open only for patients who require maintenance medication.
Most of the patients in Railaco typically deal with issues related to their immune systems, such as common respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems, with a number of hypertensives, mostly are malnutrition (which is widespread), skin diseases, and other treatable conditions. The focus is more on preventive medicine than on intervention. For serious cases, patients are referred to other clinics or to the government hospitals.
Let us pray for Fr. Bong and the Mobile Clinic team to continue this mission of God, now and in the future. We are grateful to all the donors, especially St. Canice Parish and Jesuit Mission Australia, whose contributions have made such a meaningful impact on the lives of many.
By: Iriana Soares (Source: Fr. Bong. SJ)