Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
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In March 2025, the Prioress Provincial with her council made a consensus to survey the possibilities of East Timor to scout for vocations. Hence, Sr. Victoria and Sr. Jean are then asked to arrange the said plan, and communicate with other Dominican female congregation and the Holy Rosary Province Fathers, arranging the visit scheduled in June 2025.
This visit included the Diocese of Dili headed by Card. Virgilio Do Carmo and Diocese of Baucau under Bishop Leandro Alves, both Dioceses were visited by the sisters, and personally met Bishop Leandro to discuss the objective of the visit. The mission lasted for 2 weeks, and both sisters who met many other congregations and natives feel positively of the abundant vocations in Timor, the fruit of deep religiosity and strong faith of the people to the Catholic Church. And other more possible apostolic works that the Province may think of collaboration, mainly on education. 
The Catholic Church and Mission in East Timor
Portuguese and Dutch traders made contact with Timor-Leste in early 16th c., and followed by the presence of the Dominicans in 1562. This presence of the Catholic church for 400 years made the faith strongly embedded in the daily life of the people. 97.3% of Timor-Leste’s population identifies as Catholic, making it one of the most Catholic countries in Asia, surpassing even the Philippines. According to current statistics, there are 84 female congregations now present in the Diocese of Dili alone, spearheaded in numbers by the Canossian Sisters, who came earliest among all the congregations, and the Salesian Fathers. These 2 congregations deliver many apostolic works, and enjoy a good number of vocations among the natives. Like a little Rome, the town of Dili sees the visibility of religious sisters daily, beginning with attending the mass every morning with the religious assisting the liturgy as choir, giving communion, doing catechesis, and other pastoral works. A filled church goer on a regular daily mass is a common scenario in the life of the Catholic Church in Timor. With mothers carrying their children and men spending time in prayer before attending to the task of the day. Religious orders build and operates private schools, contribute greatly in the education sector of Timor. While a precise number of Catholic Schools in East Timor isn’t readily available, it is known that church-run schools are significant part of the education system, and considered to have good practices, well-accepted and with good repute. Presently, 3 Dominican female congregations are present in Timor-Leste, namely: the Missionary Dominicans of the Rosary (Pamplona Sisters), the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherin of Siena (Portugal), and the Dominican Sisters of Maryknoll (USA) which founded the AROMDT-L, an after-school center that offers short courses on language, health care, and other skills administered by the lay Dominican collaborators. The Pamplona Dominican Sisters built and operate a kindergartenby a community of 3 sisters in Beto, alongside in Hera with a community also of 3 sisters oversees the operation of a K-9 school inaugurated in 2003; they also have the Bidau community which shelters 25 young school girls under the auspices of the Diocese of Dili. Most of the apostolate of the Pamplona sisters are already headed by the young Timor professed sisters. The Dominican Sisters of Maryknoll maintains 1 community with 3 foreign sisters doing pastoral works. |
2025 年 3 月，省會長上與其參議會達成共識，決定前往東帝汶考察聖召的可能性。為此，指派 Victoria 修女與 Jean 修女負責籌劃此行，並與其他道明會修女會及玫瑰道明會省的神父們聯繫，安排於 2025 年 6 月進行訪問。
此次訪問涵蓋由 Virgilio do Carmo 樞機主教牧養的帝力教區，以及由 Leandro Alves 主教牧養的包考教區。修女們走訪了這兩個教區，並親自會晤 Leandro Alves 主教，說明並討論此次訪問的目的。整個使命歷時兩週。在此期間，兩位修女與多個修會團體及許多當地民眾交流後，對東帝汶聖召的豐沛深感肯定，這正是人民深厚宗教情操與對天主教會堅定信仰的成果。同時，她們也看到了省會未來可考慮合作的其他使徒工作可能性，特別是在教育領域方面。 東帝汶的天主教會與傳教使命
十六世紀初，葡萄牙與荷蘭商人開始與東帝汶接觸，隨後於 1562 年道明會士進入當地。天主教會長達四百多年的臨在，使信仰深深扎根於人民的日常生活之中。現今，東帝汶有 97.3% 的人口是天主教徒，使其成為亞洲天主教比例最高的國家之一，甚至超越菲律賓。 根據最新統計，僅在帝力教區內，便有 84 個女性修會臨在。其中，人數最多的是最早來到東帝汶的嘉諾撒修女會（Canossian Sisters）以及慈幼會神父（Salesian Fathers）。這兩個修會承擔了許多使徒工作，並在本地培育出相當可觀的聖召。 帝力市宛如一座「小羅馬」，每日都能見到修女們活躍於教會生活之中：清晨參與彌撒，在禮儀中擔任聖詠團、送聖體、從事要理講授及各項牧靈服務。在東帝汶教會的日常生活中，平日彌撒中教堂座無虛座席是常見的景象，母親們抱著孩子前來參與，而男士們則在開始一天的工作前，先花時間靜心祈禱。 各修會亦建立並經營私立學校，對東帝汶的教育領域作出重大貢獻。雖然目前尚無東帝汶天主教學校的確切統計數字，但教會所辦的學校無疑是教育體系中的重要組成部分，並以良好的辦學品質、廣受肯定而聞名遐邇。 目前，在東帝汶臨在的道明會女性修會共有三個，分別是：玫瑰道明傳教修女會（潘普洛納修女會）、聖加大利納．西恩納道明修女會（葡萄牙），以及瑪利諾道明修女會（美國）。瑪利諾道明修女會創立了 AROMDT-L 課後中心，透過平信徒道明會合作者，提供語言、醫療照護及其他實用技能的短期課程。 玫瑰道明傳教修女會在 Beto 設有一個由三位修女組成的團體，負責建立並經營一所幼稚園；在 Hera，另一個同樣由三位修女組成的團體負責管理一所於 2003 年啟用的九年一貫制學校。此外，她們在 Bidau 的團體在帝力教區的支持下，收容並照顧 25 位年輕女學生。目前，潘普洛納修女會的大多數使徒工作已由年輕的東帝汶發願修女擔任領導。 瑪利諾道明修女會目前在東帝汶維持一個由三位外籍修女組成的團體，專注於牧靈服務。 |
Over-all Viewpoints of Vocation and Mission:
Education is the most urgent need that the “Church Mission” wish to address, evident in the various projects religious congregations are focusing on, whether formal or non-formal education. The Chinese community’s participation in nation-building is without doubt a major factor in the development of Timor-Leste, it is widely known that Chinese owns major businesses that employ the natives, similar with other countries where Chinese chamber of trade and commerce would dominate the economy. On this note, basing on the conversation with Bishop Alves, the local Catholic Church has very little or “no” existing ministry that supports the faith or spiritual need of the Chinese community in Timor, making this reality a credible “need” to ponder on, and might even be an opportunity for ministry. Observably in the course of 2 weeks of visiting different religious communities, parishes and centres, including the Dominican Holy Rosary Fathers, the native Timor religious are notably present in almost all Church ministry with few from the west and other Asian countries, mainly Filipinos. A certain Chinese Dominican from the Holy Rosary Province assigned in Timor 3 or 4 years ago, conceived the plan to put up a Chinese school to fill-up this need but did not materialize because of re-assignment, afterwards, no other Chinese-related ministry came about. An interesting aspect of the education sector in Timor is the growing presence of “International Schools”, (not of common context in other Asian countries) many of which are owned by Filipino entrepreneurs. These schools often employ a majority of Filipino-licensed teachers and follow the Philippine Curriculum. This educational model has gained significant acceptance within the Timorese community, offering students a familiar and well-regarded system of learning while also fostering cross-cultural exchange. The blend of local and international elements in these institutions makes them an appealing choice for many “affluent” Timorese and foreigner families. Some of the government-mandated subjects offered in schools are Portuguese, Tetum (Timor language) and History of Timor, taught by the natives. In hindsight and if ever the province would somehow seriously consider “a temporary” mission in Timor to accumulate vocations, the unique qualities of the Province of Taiwan, equip with the knowledge of operating “international schools” with modified US Curriculum which is an appealing qualification, and naturally Chinese, offer a rare and singular possibility for a one-of-a-kind apostolate in Timor-Leste, ministering to a wide spectrum of social strata. Conclusion and Recommendation: Are there still vocations in Timor despite the presence of 84 congregations vying for fresh vocations? Yes, bountifully. Vocations are abundant in Timor because of the country’s unique history, deep religiosity and faith in the Catholic Church in whose bosom, Timor-Leste owes the invaluable independence it achieved 30 years back. The Philippines and Timor Leste are the only dominantly Catholic countries in South East Asia, reason why religious congregations are swarming in the two countries to get vocations. But the cultural context of Timor Leste should be taken in consideration, and the present situation must be carefully studied for the Province to have a sustainable supply of vocations, a one-time “hi and goodbye” scenario might not give a good impression to the Timorese Bishops, especially in Dili. After many occasions of conversations with the Dominican sisters and other religious congregations who have been present in Timor for decades, it is more advisable that the Province spend a year or two in order to immerse more with the people, get better acquaintance with the natives, and be familiarized with how vocations are usually obtained. In short, establishing a relationship is key and strategizing how the mission house can come up with a ministry targeting young ladies who are aspiring to become religious is vital. Culturally, Timorese only deal with people who are already at their doorstep, and are not use to distant communication, evident in the “non-reply” correspondence experienced before the mission in Timor. Constant presence and a sincere intention to be part of Timor Church would be ideal, presence in wider community and collaboration is seen as the most appropriate and prudent scheme for the Province to flourish in this plan of “fishing” in Timor. Different Episcopal Conditions regarding Vocations:
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聖召與使命的整體觀點
教育是「教會傳教使命」目前最迫切需要回應的領域，這一點從各修會所推動的眾多計畫中清楚可見，無論是正規或非正規教育，皆成為修會投入的重點。 華人團體在國家建設中的參與，無疑是推動東帝汶發展的重要因素。眾所周知，華人擁有許多大型企業，為當地居民提供就業機會，這一情況與其他國家相似，在那些地方，華人工商會往往在經濟發展中扮演主導角色。 基於與 Alves 主教的交談，目前當地天主教會幾乎沒有，或可以說「完全沒有」專門支持華人團體信仰生活或靈性需要的牧靈服務。這一現實成為一項值得深思的實際「需求」，同時也可能是一個牧靈與使徒工作的契機。從為期兩週的實地訪問中可觀察到，無論是在不同的修會團體、堂區或牧靈中心，包括玫瑰道明會神父團體在內，教會各項牧靈服務中幾乎皆由本地東帝汶修道人員主導，來自西方或其他亞洲國家的修道人員為數不多，主要為菲律賓人。 曾有一位來自玫瑰省的華裔道明會士，約於三至四年前被派往東帝汶，構思設立一所華文學校以回應此一需要，惟因調任而未能實現；此後，亦未再出現其他與華人相關的牧靈事工。 教育領域的觀察東帝汶教育領域中一項引人注目的現象，是「國際學校」的日益增多（此情況在其他亞洲國家並不常見）。其中許多學校由菲律賓企業家創辦，並大量聘用具菲律賓教師證照的教師，採用菲律賓課綱。此一教育模式在東帝汶社會中獲得相當程度的認可，不僅為學生提供一套熟悉且具良好聲譽的教育體系，也促進跨文化交流。這些結合本地與國際元素的學校，對較為富裕的東帝汶家庭及外籍家庭具有相當吸引力。 學校中部分政府規定科目，如葡萄牙文、德頓文（Tetum，東帝汶語）及東帝汶歷史，則由本地教師授課。 省會潛在使命的反思回顧上述現況，若省會嚴肅考慮在東帝汶展開「階段性或臨時性」使命，以累積聖召，台灣省會所具備的獨特條件值得重視。台灣省會在經營「國際學校」方面擁有豐富經驗，並能採用調整後的美國課綱，此一專長極具吸引力；再加上華人文化背景，自然形成一項罕見且獨特的使徒工作可能性，使其能服務不同社會階層，成為東帝汶少見的多元牧靈模式。 結論與建議在已有 84 個修會臨在並競逐新聖召的情況下，東帝汶是否仍有聖召？答案是肯定的，而且相當豐富。 東帝汶聖召之所以充沛，源於其獨特的歷史背景、深厚的宗教情懷，以及對天主教會的堅定信仰。正是在教會的懷抱中，東帝汶於三十年前獲得了珍貴而來之不易的獨立。 菲律賓與東帝汶是東南亞唯二以天主教為主的國家，這也是眾多修會聚集於此尋求聖召的原因。然而，東帝汶的文化背景必須被充分考量，現況亦需謹慎研究，以確保省會能建立一個可持續的聖召來源。一種「來去匆匆」的短期模式，可能無法在東帝汶主教，尤其是帝力教區主教心中留下良好印象。 根據與在東帝汶服務數十年的道明修女及其他修會多次交流的經驗，較為可行的做法是省會至少投入一至兩年的時間，深入與當地人民生活，建立關係，熟悉文化，並了解當地聖召的培育方式。簡言之，建立關係是關鍵，而如何規劃一個能吸引有志成為修女之年輕女性的牧靈事工，更是使命能否成功的核心。 從文化層面來看，東帝汶人民傾向與「親臨其境」的人建立關係，並不習慣遠距或書面往來；此前使命籌備期間所遭遇的「未獲回覆」情況，正是此一文化特質的反映。因此，持續的臨在與真誠投入於東帝汶教會生活，積極參與更廣泛的團體與合作，被視為省會在此「漁人得人」計畫中最為審慎且適切的策略。 各地主教對聖召的不同規範
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