Building a new school
Three Brothers from Brazil will be engaged in a new school in East Timor, soon to be established by the province of Australia.
They are Brothers Manoel Soares da Silva, of the Brazil Centro-Norte province, João Batista Pereira, of the Brazil Centro-Sul province, and a third Brother still to be chosen by the Brazil Sul-Amazonia province within the next few months.
The province of Australia and the bishop of the diocese of Baucau, Bishop Basílio do Nascimento, have been in discussions for some time about the school’s location, which will be in an area of great need.
There are currently two Marist works in the country, run by the province of Australia: the Instituto Católico para Formacão de Professores (Catholic Institute for Formation of Teachers) in Baucau, since 2005, and an initial formation programme for young men aspiring to become Marist Brothers.
In 2013, the Brothers of Australia asked UMBRASIL, which represents Brazil’s three provinces, to support its work in the Institute and in the initial formation of young men.
Brazil then sent Brothers Lecio Heckler in 2013 and Pedrinho Tambosi in 2015 to Baucau, where they are currently involved in pastoral work for the local diocese and offer initial formation for future Marist Brothers.
Brothers Manoel and João are in Australia from Feb. 9 – July 29 to learn English before travelling to East Timor. Once in East Timor, they will turn their attention initially to the learning of Tetum, the native language of East Timor, and then on the new school.
The presence of the Brazilian and Australian Brothers in East Timor follows the message of the XXII General Chapter, “Journeying Together as a Global Family!”.
One of its five calls is to be “a global charismatic family, a beacon of hope in this turbulent world.” This call also asks Marists to “promote and nourish Marist life in all its diversity, working towards our deeply-felt desire to act as “one global body”.”
In the picture, Brothers Manoel Soares da Silva (third from the right) and João Batista Pereira (first from the right) arrive to Australia.