ASIA/EAST TIMOR - Appointment of the Bishop of Dili

Monday, 1 February 2016

TIMOR-LESTE

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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On 30 January 2016, the Holy Father appointed Rev. Fr. Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva, S.D.B., Provincial Superior of the Salesians in East Timor as Bishop of Dili (East Timor).
The newly-elected Bishop was born on November 27, 1967 in Venilale, in the diocese of Baucau. After attending primary and secondary school at the Salesians in Fatumaca, he joined the Salesians of Don Bosco. He was then sent to study Philosophy and Theology in Manila. He was ordained a priest on 18 December 1998.
Since ordination he has served the following academic and pastoral roles: 1999-2004: Formator of Novices; 2004-2005: Treasurer of the House of Formation in Venilale and assistant priest; 2005-2007: Studies in Rome for a Licentiate in Spirituality at the Pontifical Salesian University; 2007-2014: Master of Novices; 2009-2014: Director of the House of the Salesians and Don Bosco Tecnnical High School in Fatumaca; 2015: Provincial of the Salesians.
The diocese of Dili, erected in 1940, is immediately subject to the Holy See. It has an area of 4,750 square kilometers and a population of 595,000 inhabitants, of whom 562,000 are Catholics. There are 28 parishes, 133 priests (62 diocesan and 71 religious), 1 deacon, 4 religious brothers, 421 religious women and 81 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 01/02/2016)