CONGREGATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY - 8 SEPTEMBER 2014

On the annual celebration of the Foundation Day of the Society of the Divine Word in 2014, the SVD in TLS Region celebrated two special events.  First, there was a series of sports games and competitions which were participated by ten (10) groups (young people) representing the schools and parishes with which our confreres are working. Secondly, there were the Golden Jubilee of Fr. Richard Daschbach, SVD (50 years in Priesthood) and Silver Jubilees of Fr. Urbanus Bunga Lolon, SVD and Fr. Siprianus Kakut, SVD (both having had 25 years in religious life).

Different categories of sports and competitions were held; they were: futsal, volley (boys and girls), vocal groups, Scripture reading, Scripture-based quizzes, and cultural performances. All of the participants were very enthusiastic. Their sportsmanship in each game and competition was outstanding. They fully participated through all of the stages throughout the competition even though only three groups from each category received the winning prizes at the end of the day.

Those activities were officially opened by the Regional of Timor Leste, Fr. Gabriel Suban Koten, SVD, on Friday, 5 September 2014. Father regional started by welcoming the youth members of the Catholic community, and expressed his wholehearted appreciation of their readiness to accept the invitation which was sent by the event’s organising committee. He acknowledged that such a youth event was the first one to be held in the history of SVD in Timor Leste. Father regional asked the young people to be the youth of the Word, to take the courage and readiness to engage in a dialogue with the Word, with others, and with the cultures of the people, as underlined by the theme of the event: “Primeiro Diàlogo Missionàrio dos Jovens Verbitas” (The first Intercultural Dialogue with the youth of the Word).

The program was concluded with a Recollection which was given by the confreres who celebrated their Jubilees. As the Society of the Divine Word celebrates its 139th anniversary, the three Jubilarians round up the recollection with deep gratitude of God’s graces in their Priesthood and their Religious vows. The Mass of Thanksgiving was held on Monday, 8 September 2014, at the Parish of Hera, Dili-Timor Leste. Thousands of people, including members of the Arnoldus family, SVD (Divine Word Missionaries) and SSpS (Holy Spirit Sisters), were gathered and took part in the celebration.

The Region of SVD Timor Leste hereby reaffirms their commitment in making an on-going dialogue with the youth of the Word in its pastoral ministries. (kasmir)