pathways, NOVEMBER 2007
Dear Friends,
On a recent visit to East Timor, I met with Sr Rosa Sarmento, the President of the Conference of Major Superiors of East Timor. This conference has only recently received Vatican approval.
Like its Australian counterpart, the CSM-TL comprises all religious: sisters, brothers and priests, of whom there are 1200 in East Timor.
Sr Rosa is aware of 52 congregations active in East Timor. Some of these of course are represented by a handful of personnel, while some, such as the Canossians and Salesians, are quite large.
Twenty major superiors are resident in the country. There are 33 congregations represented in the capital Dili, residing in at least 50 communities in the city.
While there are two dioceses in the country - and soon to be three, which will mean that a Bishops' Conference will be created - there is only one conference of religious.
They find strength in this solidarity and are beginning to use their force of numbers in negotiations with the Church and with the government. The Nuncio, who resides in Jakarta, makes a point of always visiting and consulting the religious leaders on his frequent visits.
The current major priority of the CSM-TL is the initial formation of religious. They plan to develop a formation centre where the young sisters can have programmes, where the religious can have meetings, and where those who come in from the mountain areas can stay.
While cooperation among religious in service projects is not common, it is clear that Sr Rosa envisages this formation centre as a cooperative project and would welcome assistance from outside the island.
Other constant needs at this point revolve around formation, such as help in English language teaching, and pastoral education.
Sr Rosa spoke with appreciation of the links with religious in Asia and also the links with Australia. She was aware of and encourages those religious who come, whether for short or long periods, to help, mentor or support their brothers and sisters in East Timor.
As Provincial of the East Timor and Indonesia Province of the Canossian Sisters, Sr Rosa's congregational responsibilities are spread across both countries, although there are plans to make Indonesia a separate province.
There are five houses of the order in Indonesia, including a second novitiate, while the majority of the sisters reside in East Timor. She and her sisters have lived through a turbulent history, including the deaths in 1999 of two Canossian sisters while delivering aid to refugees.
Unfortunately, I was not able to meet Sr Fabiola Gusmao, the leader in East Timor of the Carmelite Sisters, who attended our national assembly in 2006, since she was on retreat. Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva received me graciously.
During the visit I was able to meet also with the newly elected President, Mr Jose Ramos Horta, with the deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres, and with the first head of state of East Timor, Mr Francisco Xavier do Amaral, all acquaintances from earlier days.
While there are still sporadic eruptions of violence around the city, and 100,000 people displaced, the new government is beginning to get some traction, and is commencing visible infrastructure projects around town.
Those Australian religious who are now or who wish to be active in East Timor will do well to make contact with Sr Rosa or other members of the Timorese conference. Contact details can be found on the CRA website under
Our Network.
Every good wish and blessing,
Mark Raper SJ, President, Catholic Religious Australia
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