The new Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Zumalai, Timor-Leste, is nearing completion. Fr Manuel Almeida Da Costa (Parish Priest) says that the Church will be blessed and opened by Bishop Norberto do Amaral on 16 July - the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The former temporary Church which stood in front of the new Church, has now been relocated for use as a parish hall.
The new Church will be a welcome, permanent addition for the people of Zumalai. Money originally donated by parishioners for a new church disappeared during the struggle for independence in 1999 when the parish centre was ransacked. Almost 20 years later the dream of a new church has been finally realised.
