Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
Encyclopedia
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili is the main church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dili, East Timor
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Indonesian President Soeharto on November 2, 1988 officially inaugurated Dili's new Catholic cathedral, reportedly the largest in Southeast Asia. The ceremony was attended by Dili's apostolic administrator, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.
In October 1989 it was blessed by Pope John Paul II.
The Cathedral played an important part in the country’s independence struggle, with leaders like the Noble Laureate Bishop Belo advising people to go into the country’s election with the spirit of humility of Jesus Christ.
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On April 27, 2002 around 2,000 people gathered at the Cathedral for the arrival from Portugal of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima
, which is to go on tour for three weeks as part of the celebrations ahead of the country’s independence. Mary, Our Lady of Fatima is the Patroness of East Timor. Among those welcoming the statue were Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
, Bishop Basilio do Nascimento
and other religious representatives.
The two Catholic bishops of East Timor and the papal nuncio to the country have jointly urged people to end a prolonged spate of violence and pray for national reconciliation and peace, after Mass on March 4, 2007 at Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
Father Jose Maia was the parish priest of Immaculate Conception Cathedral in 2009.
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
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History
Plans to build the cathedral began in 1984 with the Indonesian Government providing funding totalling about US$235,000. The cathedral, situated on a 10,000-square-meter plot, measures 1,800 square meters and can hold 2,000 people.Indonesian President Soeharto on November 2, 1988 officially inaugurated Dili's new Catholic cathedral, reportedly the largest in Southeast Asia. The ceremony was attended by Dili's apostolic administrator, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.
In October 1989 it was blessed by Pope John Paul II.
The Cathedral played an important part in the country’s independence struggle, with leaders like the Noble Laureate Bishop Belo advising people to go into the country’s election with the spirit of humility of Jesus Christ.
Current events
On 1 March 2007 the country's new Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, celebrated Mass at the Cathedral and then visited camps for displaced people in and around the capital, and the Seminary of Our Lady of FatimaSeminary of Our Lady of Fatima
The Minor Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima, the oldest Roman Catholic Seminary in East Timor was founded in 1936. The seminary was initially established in Manatutu district, south of Dili. In 1951 it was moved to Dare. In 1954 the Vatican canonically registered the seminary...
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On April 27, 2002 around 2,000 people gathered at the Cathedral for the arrival from Portugal of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fátima is a famous title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary as she appeared in apparitions reported by three shepherd children at Fátima in Portugal. These occurred on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting on May 13...
, which is to go on tour for three weeks as part of the celebrations ahead of the country’s independence. Mary, Our Lady of Fatima is the Patroness of East Timor. Among those welcoming the statue were Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo SDB, GCL is an East Timorese Roman Catholic bishop. Along with José Ramos-Horta, he received the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for work "towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor."...
, Bishop Basilio do Nascimento
Basilio do Nascimento
Basílio do Nascimento Martins is the Roman Catholic bishop of Baucau, East Timor.He was born on June 14, 1950, in Suai, then Portuguese Timor and ordained priest in Évora, in 1977...
and other religious representatives.
The two Catholic bishops of East Timor and the papal nuncio to the country have jointly urged people to end a prolonged spate of violence and pray for national reconciliation and peace, after Mass on March 4, 2007 at Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
Father Jose Maia was the parish priest of Immaculate Conception Cathedral in 2009.