𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒐

We welcome the newly appointed parish priest of Railaco, Fr. Roberto Madeira Encarnacão, SJ. He will be installed as parish priest next Sunday 7th January 2024 by Most Rev. Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, DD, Cardinal of Timor-Leste.

We at St Canice’s look forward to getting to know you.

Fr Roberto was ordained in 2019. We share a little background written at that time:

Raising a Jesuit priest is a long process. It doesn’t start in the Jesuit seminaries but it goes back to one’s family. But the long process paid off with the ordination of Fr. Roberto Madeira Encarnacão, SJ. The photos below will show how this new Jesuit priest finds cradle with his family, the Jesuits and the Church who nurtured his faith to be matured and become a servant of the Church.

27th of July 2019 marks a milestone not only for the Society of Jesus in Timor-Leste but also for community in Metinaro, a village in the outskirts of the capital Dili. The eucharist was also an occassion to celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits. The whole ceremony started with procession from the family residence to the parish and upon reaching the church, a moving ritual followed turning over by the family their beloved son to the Society of Jesus and the church as represented by the Superior, Fr. Joaquim Sarmento. The exchange of tais and other local symbols of honor and pride, says it all.

It was indeed a joyful occasion . The whole community of Metinaro has witnessed the rise of a new priest from among them which signalled a new hope that our God is keeping His church alive.