ASIA/EAST TIMOR - Reconciliation and national harmony: Bishop elect Alberto Ricardo da Silva of Dili tells Fides about his mission

Tuesday, 30 March 2004

Dili (Fides Service) - “I intend to intensify efforts to promote national harmony: in East Timor the Church has always striven to do this especially in times of difficulty and crisis. Today a greater effort must be made to guarantee this young democracy sound foundations of harmony and peace ”. This is the commitment taken by newly appointed Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva of Dili, the capital of East Timor a small nation in south east Asia which obtained independence from Indonesia two years ago.
Bishop elect Da Silva, appointed by Pope John Paul II on 27 February this year, will be ordained a Bishop on 2 May in Dili Cathedral. He shares his priorities with Fides : “With my priests and lay helpers I will draw up a new pastoral plan for the diocese. To promote national harmony I intend to focus mainly on formation to deepen awareness of the faith among all the faithful in order to help them live their faith and bear witness to Christ in daily life ”.
“I see great hope for the future of East Timor -- said the Bishop elect- despite the present difficulties in this stage of transition. People are optimistic and confident, especially the younger generation who are the majority of the population. The Church also looks with hope to the future, we have numerous vocations and this is comforting and encouraging ”.
The people of East Timor who voted for independence from Indonesia in a referendum in 1999, are 95% Catholic. The faith was brought here by Portuguese missionaries. Local sources tell Fides that everyone is very happy that the Pope has appointed two new Bishops: Bishop elect Ricardo Da Silva who until now was the Rector of Dili major seminary and as new Bishop of Baucau, Bishop Basilio do Nascimento, until now apostolic Administrator of Dili and Baucau.
Citizens of East Timor who fled during violence in the struggle for independence and are still in West Timor are also pleased at the appointments. Thousands fled in September 1999 when fighting between pro-Indonesia and pro-independence supporters exploded after the referendum on secession. Many have returned but many are still in West Timor fearing acts of revenge for their support of Indonesia. Hence the need to promote national reconciliation. A special court is examining the cases of persons charged with responsibility for the massacres. People are confident that the appointment of the new Bishop will give new impulse to the process of reconciliation.
The Democratic Republic of East Timor came into being on 20 May 2002, after a period of temporary administration by the United Nations. With its 95% Catholic population, East Timor is Asia’s most Catholic country and the Church can play a major role in forming consciences. The country is presently engaged in a “national dialogue” on the themes of justice and reconciliation involving members of Parliament, social and political organisations, representatives of the various Catholic communities. The local Church has always stressed the need for “forgiveness in truth and justice” as a basis for strengthening national unity.
Besides providing pastoral and spiritual assistance for the 665,000 Catholics the local Church also runs healthcare and social service centres and co-ordinates farm development programmes and co-operatives. In fact the challenge for this young nation is rebuilding infrastructures, schools, hospitals and an efficient bureaucratic system for the different sectors of public life.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/3/2004 lines 64 word 642)


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