Sunday, May 31, 2015

LIVE IN IN OECUSSE


Various pastoral activities will be held for celebrating forty years of SVD-SSpS' missionary presence in Timor Leste.
 
Between  8-11 May 2015, 30 members of SVD-SSpS made a live-in program in the parishes of Oesilo and Baocnana, Oekuse. This was the first time for such a live-in program to be held this year. The two designated parishes were duely chosen because they are located in Oekuse, the place where SVD-SSpS began their mission in Timor Leste. By visiting such a historical place and reimagining the mission of the SVD-SSpS pioneers in Oekuse, the live-in program helps us to reflect upon the history of SVD-SSpS in Timor Leste.

A range of activities from the four characteristic matras of SVD were held. Namely, a seminar about mission by the Mission Animation Commission, bible sharing activity by the Bible Commission, an ecology seminar by the JPIC Commission and a seminar by the Family Commission. The Communication Commission also produced and distributed pamphlets about the Mission of SVD in Timor Leste and in the world. 

The live-in participants from both SVD & SSpS were divided into the parish communities over the duration of three days.

The above mentioned activities were in turn held in each of the parish communities.
Other than having seminars and Bible sharing, the live-in program also brought medicines for those who are suffering from leprosy. Many of the people with leprosy in that area joyfully received the provided medicines without any charge. The medicines had been preordered by the commitee.
In August, there will be another live-in program which will take place in the parishes of Atabae and Balibo. (Fr. Kasmir Nema, SVD)

Saturday, May 30, 2015

OPENING CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE FORTY YEARS OF SVD-SSpS' MISSIONARY PRESENCE IN TIMOR LESTE



Fr. John received Fr. Superior and Regioanl in Hera
1. Introduction
First of all, I would like to congratulate all of us, the children of St. Arnold Jansen, who celebrate the feast of St. Joseph Freinademetz, the first missionary and patron of the SVD Timor Leste Region. Along with this celebration, on this day we received twelve young people who entered the SVD's postulancy. This celebration also officially opens the celebration of SVD/SSpS' forty years of presence and mission in Timor Leste. We are going to celebrate this special moment over the whole year, starting today, January 29, 2015, until January 29, 2016 
.
Last year, when we celebrated the birth of the SVD congregation on September 8, Fr. regional and the committee in a circular letter wrote that, activities which were carried out during the celebration especially brought the young people together from different parishes and the places where the SVD-SSpS are present.  It was one of the anticipatory activities which build up to the celebration of SVD-SSpS' forty years of presence and Mission in Timor-Leste. Therefore, the initiative and the spirit of such a momentuous celebration have been started from that moment, being realised today, and will continue until January 29, 2016.

2. The purpose of celebrating 40 years of SVD-SSpS' presence and Mission in Timor Leste 
     a/    We thank the Triune God - the Holy Trinity - the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, who has blessed our founder St. Arnold Yansen, the first missionary St. Joseph Freinademetz, and our co-founders Blessed Maria Helena Stollenwerk and Blessed Maria Josepha, who have inspired and animated us, who have become a model for the missionary work of SVD-SSpS in Timor Leste for forty years and beyond.
      b/    We are grateful to honestly open ourselves to the past, through understanding the history and experience of the past, in the light of the 'Word of God' rooted in the culture of East Timor so that we are still standing strong today. The current period is full of challenges and different opportunities which invite us to look towards the future in ways that the presence and the actualization mission can be more effective and relevant in the context of a changing world, especially in East Timor.
       c/    We wish to spread and deepen the SVD-SSpS spirituality to and with other people, especially among those whom SVD-SSpS work with.
       d/    We wish to strengthen the unity and collegiality between SVD-SSpS and  all of the people in parishes as well as in other places where SVD-SSpS have their missionary presence.

3.  Action Plan
 a/ Action Plan ad Intra.
      = We collectively and individually will attend retreats / monthly recollections within each community and district of SVD-SSpS, and together with other people at certain times. The themes will be distributed monthly and the retreats will be related to the year of consecrated life proclaimed by Pope Francis (November 30, 2014 - February 2, 2016).
      = Other Ad intra activities will be implemented jointly with associated Commissions, for example: AJS Workshop, annual retreats, seminars / workshops intercultural.

 b/   Action Plan ad Extra.
= Some activities in the parishes will be carried out by the commissions during this year. The schedule of events will be distributed to the parishes and communities of SVD-SSpS.
        =  In relation to this celebration, the New Testament and bulletins related to the 40th anniversary of SVD-SSpS will be distributed as memories of the celebrations.
       =  There will be a dialogue called "Jovem Verbita ", to be conducted in August.
     =  The Commission will propose to the SVD-SSpS' Regionals and regional councils about the time and venue of the celebration of SVD-SSpS' forty years of Mission in Timor-Leste. The comission is suggesting two places: 1. the parish of Oecuse, the first community of the SVD-SSpS in East Timor; 2. the parish of Atabae, voted by the other parishes.

4.  Finance
Fr. John at Holy Land with Holy Global Tour
   The current finance for the celebration of forty years is nil. But as said by St. Arnold Janssen, the money is in the pocket of benefactors ... ..just wait when the activities are implemented ... ... the financial resource will come from the members of  SVD-SSpS, community contributions and generous volunteers. All will come hand in hand with the aim of promoting religious life and promoting the Mission of SVD-SSpS in parishes where SVD-SSpS have missionary presence. For example, by making catechesis, Bible sharing, family visits, Animation Mission, social services and film documentaries.
This is the general planning of the committee for the celebration of 40 years of SVD-SSpS' presence and mission in East Timor. Details of the commission structure and an action plan of the activities will published in the next commission meeting.
Finally, with the grace and help of the Merciful and Incarnate God, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may we all stay healthy, body and soul, so that the we can wholly celebrate forty years of SVD-SSpS' presence and mission in East Timor. (Fr.Yohanes Suban Gapun, SVD)




PEACE IN THE SCRIPTURES AND IN THE SOCIAL TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH




The Catholic Church does not only proclaim peace, but also lives out and promotes peace in the world. One of the Churchs vocation and mission is to live in the peace which God has given for the Church, and to promote such peace around the world. This simple presentation is going to discuss several aspects of the Social Teachings of the Church on peace.
  

1.    Biblical Foundation of Peace

The Bible speaks often about peace, and there we can find the foundational understanding of peace which is essential in the Social Teachings of the Church on peace.

a.    Peace as Gods identity. javè è paz(Judges 6.24). This kind of peace is not something that exists only in life, but is the essence of Gods identity. In the book of Genesis, God created all things and all things were united, living together in harmony, and He saw that it was good. In Gods law, everything that God created lives in a beautiful reality because God is the source and the centre of this life. But, when men and women whom God created according to Gods image do not live according to Gods law - not adhering to Gods voice and preferring the voices of others - men and women fell out of their original existence, resulting in incredulity, ignorance and violence. (Gen. 11.1-9).
b.    Biblical prosperous peace does not simply mean the non-existence of war, but rather, it is principally a fullness/fulfilment of life (Mal. 2.5) in abundance, Shalom in Hebrew or eirenein Greek. This fullness of life is a gift and a grace from God. God gives the fullness of life as a gift for all of His people and asks the people to live in that fullness of life in which God is the source and the centre. God cares for all of His people and gives them shalom. (Deut. 6.26).  
c.    The Scriptures also talk about the Messianic vision of peace wherein a new world will be created with peace embracing all of creation (Is. 11.6-9). Everyone will go to the house of God, that He may teach them His ways, and all people will walk in the light of the Lord (Is. 2.2-5). In this peaceful messianic vision, the Messiah is called as The Prince of Peace(Is. 9.5).
d.    This messianic promise of peace is realised in Christ. When He comes, the angels raise their voices praising God in the Highest and may peace be on earth. This song of praise also reveals the one to come as Prince of Peace, a realisation of the messianic promise. When Jesus was raised from the dead and appeared before His disciples, the words that He repeatedly gave to the disciples were Peace be with you(Lk 24.36, Jn. 20.19).
e.    The peace of Christ is a reconciliation with God and our reconciliation with each other. St. Paul firmly expressed that Christ is our peace (Shalom). Jesus breaks down any barrier, or anything which separates us from God, and unites us with God. (Eph. 2.14-16). Jesus calls us to continue this mission of peace. When He sent His disciples on a mission, He said, whatever house you enter, let your first words be Peace to this house!’” (Lk. 10.5). 
f.     The work for peace must not be separated from the proclamation of the Gospel. Anyone who lives in peace, brings witness to and promotes peace, is proclaiming the Gospel. St. Paul talks about the vocation of all followers of Christ is to have peace and love as shields and truth as  their waist belt to proclaim The Gospel of Peace.(Eph. 6.13-15). 

2. Peace as the Fruit of Justice and Charity
Peace cannot be understood in itself, but its fundamentally rooted in God as the source of life, truth and love. The Church teaches us that peace is a fruit, or a result, of justice (Is. 32.17) which closely implies the dignity of all people. Justice leads us to respect every person as a dignified human being and to work for the common good of all creation. Peace is also a fruit of charity which is nourished by love, patience, and forgiveness.
            As a fruit of justice and charity, both of which are integral aspects of the dignity of all people, peace has to be part of everyones responsibility. An act of violence can never be a just nor can be justified tool of peace. Our world today needs prophetic witnesses of peace, truth and charity to sustain and maintain peace on earth.

3. The Churchs Contributions for Peace 
            The Church is never silent in the face of persisting injustice, manipulation and violence. The life the Church shows a missionary commitment for peace and through the structure of the Church also facilitates ways to bring about peace. Every diocese around the world has an active commissioning body to facilitate mission for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.
            The Church in her mission to bring about peace plays an integral part in Christs mission. The Church, in Christ, is a sacrament of peace on earth. To promote peace is also an expression of Christian faith, as much as to live in peace, unity and love is an identity of Christian faith. The Church - through the Papal encyclicals and apostolic exhortations - always calls people to work towards peace with just means for common good, so that rules, international laws, social structures in economy and political spheres may be transformed. The Church condemns any form of violence and brutal acts of terrorism with no exception. The Church teaches people that true peace can be achieved through forgiveness and reconciliation. On the other hand, forgiveness must not prevent justice and truth. Justice and truth are concrete means in establishing peace.
            Through the official documents, the Church reminds all people around the world, leaders of nations and all people of goodwill to collaborate and work together for peace and reconciliation. The local Churches in their own contextualised ways have been taking concrete actions towards peace, justice, truth and the integrity of creation.
            More importantly, the Church continuously prays that all people may live in peace and love, that everyone may live in shalom. In the international sphere, the Pope has invited world-wide leaders of all religions to pray for peace in Assisi; in the local sphere, there are numerous initiatives for the local Churches to promote collaboration with other religions and with all people of good will to promote peace and justice, so that everyone, yes, all of us, can live in shalom. (P. Gabriel Suban Koten, SVD)

Saturday, May 23, 2015

My First hand experience in Assamatadu “Holy Ground” (Fr. Manoj Kharady, SVD)



“Amu Macadique nee la diak, hela iha nee deit”, was the frequent statement made by people when I moved from Darabai, Uatolari to Assamatadu, Macadique. Assamatadu is the place where our residence is located in Macadique. Recently, as I was down with dengue-malaria, once again this phrase haunted me because people reminded me once again saying, “amu rai nee lulik, diak liu muda ba fatin seluk.” Our residence is located near the cemetery probably that’s why people call it as “Holy Ground”.

I was presented to the people of Macadique on 13th May 2014 on the Feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, the Patroness of the Ensino Basico Central, the school where I would teach English. Thus, it is almost one year since I arrived in Macadique.

The first hand experience was that I enjoyed the warm welcome, feast and dance with the children and the smiling faces of the children who were so fascinated to see an Indian priest in their midst.  Within a few weeks I realised that I was more than a priest for them. In me they saw an artist like Shaharuk Khan whom most of them call by “Rahul” the famous name in the film. When they see me on the roads and school they sing shingly, “Kuch Kuch Hota Hei”. The song from Indian movie.

As a young missionary the responsibility that is bestowed upon me is not only to cater the spiritual needs of the faithfuls but also to administer the Catholic High School (SMPK) belonging to the diocese of Baucau given into the care of SVDs. We are two in the community, the director of the school and me. Thus, as pastors we carry out spiritual as well as education-formation programs. It is not an easy task to be a teacher and pastor though basically all pastors are teacher. The total strength of the school from the primary section to the high school are 445, in which 249 boys and 196 girls. We are total 19 teaching staffs, of which 15 male and 4 female teachers, including we two SVD priests and one SSpS sister. It is a great joy to work in collaboration with different ethnic as well as religious groups. Along with teaching we also carry out different training and community building programs.
 
As for my mission as a teacher in the school and as an assistant pastor in the church I am quite happy and contended and feel great joy by being with the people. However, lately I have discovered that it is really not easy to be a missionary in Timor Leste, especially in the East, in Uatolari. Because people are really tough and not easy to break through their stereotypes of the culture and traditions which keep them shackled from moving forward.   Slowly, now I am beginning to discover why they are the way they behave. It is because of their painful and horrible past, war, long mistreatment by the colonizers and the later occupants that made them so inferior and worthless that they find difficult to see their own goodness. However with the missionary presence slowly things are getting better. What I feel is that some of us religious and missionaries will have to change our stereotypes and mind set towards the Timorese people if we really sincere and faithful in our calling as priests. And finally, personally as a missionary priest I feel that it is indeed a great challenge to be in Timor Leste.