Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on January 30, 2010, erected the Diocese of Maliana (East Timor), with territory taken from the Diocese of Dili. The Holy Father has appointed as first Bishop of Maliana, Fr. Norberto Do Amaral, Chancellor of the Diocese of Dili.
The new diocese of Maliana (nom. lat. Malianensis), will include the administrative region of Maliana in three districts (Liquica, Bobonaro, and Cova-Lima) and 16 sub-districts. The new Diocese borders the Diocese of Dili to its East and that of Atambua (Indonesia) to its West. The parish church of Maliana, dedicated to the “Sagrado Coração de Jesus,” will become the Cathedral of the new diocese.
Fr. Norberto Do Amaral was born February 17, 1956 in Ainaro, Diocese of Dili. After attending elementary school in the Catholic school in Ainaro, he entered the diocesan minor seminary of Dare. He completed his philosophical studies (1981-1983) and theological studies (1985-1988) at the Major Seminary of St. Peter in Ritapiret, Flores, Indonesia, also carrying out a year of pastoral ministry in the parish of Ossú (1984). He was ordained priest on October 18, 1988 for the Diocese of Dili. He subsequently ministered as follows: 1988: Assistant Pastor of the Parish of Ainaro, 1989-2000: Pastor of the Parish of Maubisse, 2000-2004: Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary in Dili, 2005-2007: Studies for a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Urban University in Rome. Since 2007: Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Prefect of Studies at the Major Seminary in Dili. Since 2008, he has served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Dili and Director of the Diocesan Magazine “Seara.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 30/1/2010)