A Few Days of Joyful Fraternity with the Carmelites of East Timor
Given the geographical proximity and the fact that I was in Indonesia for the General Chapter and had previously planned this visit with the prior provincial of the Province of Australia and East Timor, Bruce Clark, I was given the opportunity to make a fraternal visit to our confreres of this Province in East Timor.
The connection between Portugal and East Timor is a historical fact. The first Portuguese merchants and missionaries arrived on this island in 1515, exploiting the region's natural resources and proclaiming the Gospel. Timor was Portuguese territory until 1975.
Despite all the historical vicissitudes, East Timor has been a fully independent territory since May 22, 2002. The link with Portugal has been maintained due to our shared history and mutual collaboration in various areas. For example, one of East Timor's official languages is Portuguese.
It is in this context that the Commissariat of the Carmelites in Portugal has maintained a close relationship with the Carmelites of East Timor, supporting the confreres in their formation and in their learning the Portuguese language. It was also this relationship that led me to visit our confreres in this country for a week. To the historical, cultural, and collaborative closeness, I have now added an experience of closeness through physical presence.
I can testify to the joy with which these brothers live the charism and fraternity, and how the different generations live a simple life of prayer, collaboration and mutual support. It is with this same joy that they welcome those who visit them.
East Timor is teeming with vocations. It throbs with hope in living and proclaiming Jesus Christ and the Carmelite charism. It is growing in communion and participation in the local Church. The affection with which the Carmelites are treated is a testimony to this dedication in the community.
Something that also struck me was the closeness between the various branches of the Carmelite Family: confreres, lay people and Carmelite Sisters. There is great complicity between everyone and the realization of projects in which everyone is involved.
It's been a growing presence since 2001, when our confreres in Australia began this project. In addition to the older communities in Hera (two formation communities), Zumalai and Fatuhada (Dili), the confreres are starting a new community in Comoro (Dili) and have embraced a missionary project in Guisarudo where they are creating the spiritual and material conditions for the creation of a new parish.
Personally, I have witnessed the generosity of the confreres in their service to the community and of the community towards the confreres. Some of the confreres are still present in institutes and on formation fronts linked to philosophy and theology, as well as being asked to lead retreats and provide spiritual assistance to some chaplaincies.
I had the opportunity to visit some of the houses of the Carmelite Sisters of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. The Sisters' dedication in the education sector, in running a retreat centre and in various socio-charitable projects, especially in peripheral contexts, is commendable. I would also like to thank the sisters for their fraternal welcome, which was always very lively and choreographed!
I carry with me an enviable collection of "tais" (Timor's traditional garments used in honoring and welcoming people) that I keep as a symbol of a memorable time!
As well as visiting and socializing with the various branches of the Carmelite Family, I also had the chance to visit some of Timor's emblematic and historic sites, as well as some of its natural beauty.
In a Jubilee year with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope," these days in East Timor were an opportunity for me to reinforce hope in the present and future of the Carmelite Order, wherever it may be. It perfectly complemented and added to the memory of the fraternity and vitality of the Order experienced at the Malang General Chapter.
I thank God for the witness of fraternity that I received and for the joy of our confreres on this "good and holy" journey in "obedience" to Jesus Christ, following the example of Mary and Elijah."
Agostinho Marques Castro, O. Carm.
Commissary General
