2020-03-18 EAST TIMOR

ICFP Graduation (Catholic Teachers’ College) in Baucau

At least five hundred people gathered in Baucau, Timor Leste, on 7th March, for the ICFP (Instituto Católico para a Formação de Professores) Graduation Mass and the ceremony for awarding of degrees to eighty-five students. Br Greg McDonald represented the Provincial, Br Peter Carroll. The Mass, led by the Vicar General, Monsignor Francisco Pinheiro e Silva, was a beautiful celebration with musical accompaniment arranged by Br Michael McManus and superb singing by the ICFP choir.

The Degree Ceremony started with the singing of the National Anthem followed by the official welcome, in both Tetun and English, by Br Paul Gilchrist, director of ICFP. Fifty-eight students were then presented with their Bachelor of Teaching degrees, followed by the awarding of the Bachelor of Education (Licentiate) degree to twenty-seven students.

Guest speakers included Dr Edmundo Viegas, Director of the Timor-Leste National Tertiary Accreditation Board, and Dr Maria Filomena Lay, Director General of Education. Graduate, Graciana Ximenes da Costa, gave a formal reply on behalf of her fellow awardees. Amongst the guests were Br Mark Paul, founding ICFP Director, and representatives from the Australian Catholic University and the Australian Embassy.

The Marist presence was also strong with all the Brothers and aspirants, in attendance.

Following the formalities, a great feast was provided for all those in attendance.

The Institute, accompanied by a community of three Brothers (two from the Province of Australia and one from the Province of Brasil Centro-Norte), has 264 students, divided into two courses: 213 attend the three years of the baccalaureate and 51 are students of the degree course, which also lasts three years.

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