In August, Jesuit Mission Australia welcomed four Jesuit leaders from Timor-Leste to Melbourne and Sydney, where they joined friends and supporters for a special Q&A discussion on their mission and ministry.
The Q&A was led by Jesuit Mission Australia CEO Helen Forde and offered a unique opportunity to hear first-hand accounts of transformation in education, teacher training, health, water and sanitation, and food security in Timor-Leste.
Fr Hyoe Murayama SJ, Director of NOSSEF Railaco Secondary School, expressed thanks on behalf of rural families.
“On behalf of our school, I express our deepest gratitude to your generous support of over 20 years to our mission. Every year 100 percent of our year 12 students pass the national exam and have had over 1800 graduates.”
Fr Calisto Seco Colo SJ, Principal of Colégio de Santo Inácio de Loiola (CSIL), highlighted the impact of Jesuit education.
“Our school began in 2013 with 78 students, three classrooms, no windows and no doors,” he said. “Now we have a beautifully constructed campus with 822 students… about 67 percent of them are girls. From the bottom of our hearts—thank you for your support.”
Fr Isaias Caldas SJ, Rector of Instituto São João de Brito (ISJB), reflected on the meaning of meeting supporters in person.
“It is quite overwhelming the sensation that I’m feeling to see people like you who have been behind the scenes supporting our missions Seeing you eyes to eyes gives me more meaning to what I’m doing due to your generosity,” he said.
Fr Julio Sousa SJ, Director of Jesuit Social Service, spoke of transformation at the grassroots.
“We have gradually given people from rural areas new opportunities, given them hope, given them life,” he said. “Five thousand people now have access to clean water and fifty families have newly built sanitation facilities, however, the success of a project should be measured by how many people’s lives we have touched.”
Jesuit Mission CEO Helen Forde acknowledged the supporters who make this possible.
“The work that we do with our Jesuit partners doesn’t happen without your generosity, without your prayers, without your friendship, and without your solidarity,” she said.
In Sydney, the evening concluded with a moving cultural exchange: the Timorese Jesuits performed songs of gratitude and resilience, including a traditional song written during the fight for Timorese Independence.
They reminded supporters that, as St Ignatius taught, we are called to “find God in all things” and to walk together in companionship and solidarity.
View photos from the event in Sydney.
Find out more
- Our program in Railaco
- Our Colégio de Santo Inácio de Loiola program
- Our Instituto São João de Brito program
