East Timor Region (ETR)

Fr John Mace (WIS), Regional Superior of East Timor, wrote on March 7, "I returned to the Jesuit Community of Creighton University after lunch today (Friday, March 6).

The operation took about one and one half hours on Monday morning, beginning at 7:30. I remember being rolled into the operating room. And then suddenly I heard nurses asking me how I felt. It was all over.

Amazing that the nurses had me stand up that very afternoon.

Fr John Mace, Superior of the East Timor Region, arrived in Omaha last January 30. His hip replacement will take place after he meets his orthopedic surgeon on February 20. Please pray for his successful surgery and fast recovery.

Fr Dibya (IDO) returned to East Timor early August and began his duties as Socius to the Novice Master and Director of the Candidacy Program.

Fr John Mace will be going to the USA on January 30. He will undergo a hip replacement. Please keep him in your prayers.

The three first-year novices, Armando Smith, Gemito de Jesus and Luis Perreira, began the Spiritual Exercises on November 1 under the tutelage of Fr Joaquim Sarmento at the Carmelite Retreat House in Maubara. Fr Dibya (IDO) remains at the Manresa Novitiate to watch and pray.

Comings and Goings

Fr Horie Setsuro (JPN) departed East Timor on September 22. His first stop is Japan to visit Jesuits, family and friends. He will then move on to Brazil for a new assignment. Fr Filomeno departed for his sabbatical at Oxford on September 29. Australian Province Novice Alan Wong arrived on September 10 for his long experiment, living and working with our three East Timorese novices. He will return to Australia on October 27.

Community Retreat

Thirteen mission members plus three novices made their annual retreat at the Carmelite Retreat House in Maubara on July 14 – 22. Fr Danny Huang (PHI), incoming Assistant for EAO for Father Nicolas, gave points each morning on GC 35. His excellent input made the retreat a good experience for all.

Joaquim Pires, the sole East Timorese in this year’s batch of first year Juniors at the Arrupe International Residence shared his vocation story. You may access it at: http://www.jesuit.org.sg/html/choices/vocation.stories/vocation.stories.joaquim.pires.html

(L-R) Apau, Calisto, Gustavo, Joao, Side, Isaias and Diego in the location of the new houses for Casa de Producao Audiovisual (CPA), established by the late Fr. Ruedi Hofmann, near Casait, Liquisa.

Seven East Timorese scholastics, Isaias Abilio Caldas, Gustavo Soares, Calisto Seco Colo, Diogo Carvalho, Paulo dos Santos, Sidelizio Pereira and Joao dos Santos went for apostolic home visit to East Timor from April 11 – May 23. Calisto went through Kupang, West Timor then to Oecussi, his hometown, where he stayed for two weeks.

Congratulations to Joaquim Pires on taking First Vows last May 19. We pray that his adjustment to life at Arrupe Residence will go smoothly — if he ever gets there. Not having a visa prevented him from traveling on May 20. No tickets on Philippine Airlines in May prevented his going on May 23.