Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Maumere (Agenzia Fides) – The celebration of World Mission Sunday, October 24, will have a historical significance for the Camillians in Indonesia with the ordination of two young priests in the Seminary of the Divine Word Missionaries in Ledalero, a town of Maumere on the island of Flores. As Fides was told by Fr. Luigi Galvani, a Camillian missionary, the two new priests have recently returned to their country after completing ten years of religious and theological education in the Philippines. They will now be the "man power" for the new mission that has only been open for a year on the island of Flores. Currently, the community is composed of four men and fifteen young people living in a rented house on the outskirts of the city.
Indonesia is the tenth Asian country where the Camillians have founded in the last sixty years. They came from the Philippines with the aim of raising awareness of the charism of charity of St. Camillus, attracted also by the encouraging vocational prospects of this great country. A decade ago, the lack of missionary personnel did not allow them to give life to a mission there, so it was decided to invite a group of young people in Manila for studies and training. After ten years, the experience is bearing fruit. In fact, already there are three priests and two other young men are preparing to become priests in the coming years, God willing.
"Now with the opening of the new community in Flores and promising vocational hopes - said Fr. Galvani -, the Camillians have decided to add another historic event to the October 24th ordinations: the blessing and the laying of the cornerstone stone of the first Camillian seminary in Indonesia. The new structure will thus be able to accommodate a greater number of candidates for the initial training and higher education. The Camillian charism is very positively received by the local Church and for this reason, we hope that many young people are attracted by the example of the two new priests, and, like them, one day become promoters of the charism of charity of St. Camillus and missionaries of hope and human solidarity in their great country." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 18/10/2010)
