ASIA/EAST TIMOR - "As the day approaches, we are very excited and we are preparing to welcome the successor of Peter with great devotion": the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians await Pope Francis

Comoro (Agenzia Fides) - "As coordinators, we do not work alone, two parishes are involved in the area of Comoro: the Parish of Aimutin of the Claretian religious and that of Mary Help of Christians, of the Salesians. We have already met twice and divided the work," explains Sister Angelita Gomes, who, together with her fellow sisters Sister Ivonia Carmelinda Belo and Sister Sanzinha Maria Auxiliadora de Jesus, were appointed by the Provincial Council of the FMA as the contact person for the major event on September 10, 2024, during which Pope Francis will celebrate Holy Mass on the esplanade of Tasi Tolu, where around 700,000 faithful from all over Timor and some neighboring countries are expected.

"Pope Francis’ visit to East Timor fills the entire population with joy, especially the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of St. Mary D. Mazzarello Province (East Timor-Indonesia), who will help coordinate the central event," says the statement released by the nuns. "We FMA will focus on the areas of the altar and the sacristy of the Pope, the papal entourage, and the bishops. The people who come from the two parishes will take care of the areas around the altar. About 250 people are involved in this decoration, because the place is very large. Our plan is to start the work by 7 September 2024, due to the significance of this place. So far, the part of the presbytery is still under construction."

The nuns emphasize that the preparation is not only material, but also spiritual. "At the level of the Episcopal Conference there have been prepared Catecheses on the biography of the Pope and on the knowledge of some encyclicals, on his mission as Pope and successor of Peter, and on the central theme of the visit, “that your faith may become your culture” (see Fides, 31/7/2024). Catechesis is underway in the three dioceses of Dili, Maliana, and Baucau. Some Daughters of Mary Help of Christians have been involved at the diocesan level, as well as at the parish and school levels, in order to reach the greatest number of people. In addition, on August 30, 2024, there will be a national day of retreat, reflection and confession for all the faithful." A Salesian missionary sister will be in charge of the sacristy of the papal entourage and will be part of the commission that deals with the design of the liturgy, while a fellow sister will be the second youth coordinator in the preparation of the special meeting of the Pope with more than four thousand young people on September 11 at the Dili Convention Center. In addition, on September 10, the Holy Father will have the opportunity to meet with religious, priests, seminarians, religious candidates, catechists and the elderly at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Dili.

"We are very excited and are preparing to welcome the Successor of Peter with great devotion, especially we Salesian missionary sisters who have a special devotion for the Pope," the missionary sisters conclude. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 5/8/2024)

Share: