For 20 years, the donations from St Canice’s Parish have been helping to improve the health, nutrition, and access to education of Railaco communities nearby with a focus on the most disadvantaged families, children, and youth.
The support of St Canice’s is ensuring a strong education for senior school students at NOSSEF that leads into improved employment opportunities and income support for their families and communities.
“As we enter the next phase of our 20-year relationship, we recognise that much in Railaco has changed, and St Canice’s has a cohort of new parishioners too. Our ‘sisterhood’ must remain meaningful. On return to Timor, I will form a committee to gather stories to present a full picture of what St Canice’s has made possible, and to address how we sustain this ministry for the next period of years”, he said.
Gratitude to our generous donors
First of all, on behalf of NOSSEF Catholic Secondary school of Railaco, I wish to express our gratitude to our generous friends and benefactors. In particular, the Jesuit parish of St Canice, Sydney, has always shown generous forms of solidarity with us through constant prayer and donations.
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.
“Why can’t all Sundays capture the essence of days like this?”
Our little community of St Canice’s comes out on a sunny Sunday morning in numbers, not only to celebrate the feast of St Ignatius but to support our sister parish in Railaco East Timor. After Mass, we mingle and chat with old friends over morning tea.
Much of our time was spent with the children at NOSSEF – the school in Railaco. The separate boys’ and girls’ dormitories for boarders at NOSSEF are life-changing. Without them, many students would have to travel upward of three hours each day to get to and from school.
It was a delight to teach the students in Railaco as they were all eager to learn and to loved hearing our stories about Australia. (I am sure our teachers at Riverview wished we were always so attentive in class).
2023 RAILACO EVOLVES
It’s a quantum step forward for our relationship with Railaco to have a group of interested people around a table at the new St Canice Hub. They are keen to know more about how our Railaco relationship works and curious about how we raised a million dollars in a small parish environment since the start of the program.
It’s a quantum step forward for our relationship with Railaco to have a group of interested people around a table at the new St Canice Hub. They are keen to know more about how our Railaco relationship works and curious about how we raised a million dollars in a small parish environment since the start of the program.
Railaco – 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬
From our perspective, it’s important to have a representative group of new people of different ages to come on board to better understand the achievements in Railaco, and hopefully to get personally involved.
𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫
We’re backing a winner with Railaco. The whole St Canice Railaco project is a combined success story. The Feeding Program, Medical Clinic and Secondary School have ultimately been about social empowerment. Starting from pure handouts when they really needed it after the departure of Indonesian occupiers, the Railaco project has been evolving towards empowerment.
It’s a winner and it’s going somewhere. The Railaco parish needs us more than ever to maintain the momentum.
Thank you to the incredible generosity from the Sydney based Jesuit parish, St Canice, who has been a phenomenal supporter and companion to its sister Parish in Railaco, Timor-Leste since 2004.
During their recent St Ignatius Feast Day appeal, St Canice’s was able to reach a significant milestone of raising over $1 million for Railaco – thanks to 18 years of commitment and steadfast support from the St Canice’s community. “St Canice community, thank you! You found us at our rock bottom and you lifted us by feeding our hungry, providing service for our sick, and providing education to our youth! Thank you and God bless you for following Him in the mission,” said Fr Bong Abad Santos SJ, who runs the mobile medical clinic in Railaco.
