ICFP hosts second Champagnat Marist Family meeting in Timor-Leste as participants begin planning for 2027
September 12, the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, marked the second gathering of the newly formed Champagnat Marist Family in Timor-Leste. Held at the Instituto Católico para Formação de Professores (ICFP), the gathering brought together 35 Marist lay people and Brothers to begin shaping their vision, activities and pastoral initiatives for 2027.
The gathering builds on the official launch of the Champagnat Marist Family in Timor-Leste on 25 March, which marked a significant new chapter in the development of the Marist mission in the country.
The September meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the Family's developing structure and purpose, with discussions focused on welcoming new members and developing pastoral activities in both Baucau and Lautém.
The group heard from Br Melquiano Obe who spoke enthusiastically about his experience participating in the Champagnat Marist Family Assembly in Fiji in May, the energy among the Champagnat Marists present and the priority to continue building connectivity throughout the 11 countries of the Star of the Sea Province that were represented.
Lay Marist Joaquina Belo also shared about recent online meetings with Ruth Hirihu from the Solomon Islands and Joeli Koroiravudi from Fiji-Samoa. As leaders of their respective Champagnat Family groups, Ruth and Joeli shared insights into the structure, aims and vision of their groups with Joaquina, which she shared with the group.
Looking ahead to 2027, lay Marist Salvador Ximenes Magno invited participants to discuss possible activities for the group and begin developing a calendar of events. Ideas included organising pastoral outreach to children experiencing poverty in local communities, as well as identifying annual dates and occasions that could be celebrated together as a Marist family.
Br Greg McDonald, Provincial Delegate for Timor-Leste and Cambodia, provided an overview of Champagnat Family groups across the Province and spoke about the growing vitality of the lay Marist vocation across the 11 countries. He also shared his hope that the steady growth of Champagnat Marists in Timor-Leste, among both lay people and Brothers, would provide the energy and commitment needed to build on what has been established over the past 26 years and continue making a significant contribution to the Church and the lives of young people in Timor-Leste.
The Timor-Leste Champagnat Family Commission currently comprises Salvador Ximenes Belo, Henriqiueta Pereira da Costa, Joaquina Freitas Belo, Br Melquiano Obe and Br Greg McDonald. During the gathering, Julio Pires and Cláudia Iong were elected to join the Commission for the coming year.
The establishment of the Champagnat Marist Family aims to strengthen the lay Marist network in Timor-Leste and build on the work carried out by the Marist Brothers and their collaborators over the past 25 years. While the Brothers have long been supported by dedicated lay collaborators, the new group provides a more structured way for people to belong to and participate in the wider Champagnat Marist Family, in keeping with similar groups across the Province.
The newly formed family is seeking to nurture a vibrant spiritual community in Timor-Leste and its developing pastoral plan will provide a framework for this work as the group looks towards 2027.
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