Our Deacons, Roque Soares da Cruz and Carlito da Silva, will be ordained priests on Friday 30 January in Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili, Timor Leste.

Bishop Norberto do Amaral, Bishop of Maliana Diocese, will preside at the Ordination due to the illness of the Bishop of Dili, Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva.

The Carmelites in Timor Leste have been preparing for months for the Ordination even though the date has only recently been confirmed.

Our novices and students from Hera, together with our pre-Novices from Fatuhada, have been busy rehearsing the singing for the Ordination Mass.

They have also been preparing the booklets for printing, organising refreshments and the many other arrangements that need to be made for the Ordination and the Masses of Thanksgiving.

Roque and Carlito joined the Carmelites together as pre-Novices in 2003 at Zumalai. They made their first profession of vows as Carmelites in 2006 and their Solemn Profession in 2013 and were ordained deacons last year.

Like most people in East Timor, Roque and Carlito come from farming families. To help with his school fees Roque used to sing and play guitar or keyboard at church and social functions. A talented musician, Roque has produced two CDs of songs.

Since his ordination as a deacon Roque has been working in the local parish at Hera. Here is helps organise liturgies and music, preaches at mass and gives talks and reflections.

His pastoral work has brought him into contact with the real social problems many people are facing in East Timor – often a struggle for the basic necessities of life and to feed, clothe and educate their children. Young people are also a big part of his ministry at Hera.

“We (Carmelites) choose to live together in the middle of the Christian people. We can embrace young people far from the Church.  We can build a relationship with the young so that they can grow in their faith as a Christian person,” Roque says.

Carlito has been working in our parish in Zumalai as a deacon. His main work is with the children and young people of the parish. He preaches at mass, does religious instruction classes and visits the station churches. He also works with the local hospital and medical clinic in Zumalai to educate the local people about disease prevention.

As well, Carlito grows and sells vegetables and pigs to make money for the community and to fund some projects in Zumalai parish.

Asked about his hopes for the future, Carlito said, “My hope is to become a good man for my country and other people.  I want to become a leader - not only in front, but also behind and in the middle, for all those in need.”

Following the Ordination Carlito and Roque will celebrate their Masses of Thanksgiving in churches near to their home villages.

We send our prayers and congratulations to Roque and Carlito.