Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima
Encyclopedia
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. It was taken over by the Jesuits in 1958.
The seminary, which sits on the top ridge of the mountains
surrounding Dili, was for generations East Timor's most important
educational institute where almost every East Timorese leader was
educated.
In 1983 the St. Joseph’s High School
became a separate institution from the Minor Seminary. Among the students of the High School are approximately 50 seminarians.
The seminary was the only place where East Timorese could be educated beyond secondary school level and its alumni include a roll call of leaders including Nicolau dos Reis Lobato
and Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
. Xanana Gusmão
spent four years at the seminary. Most of the Fretilin guerillas were educated at the Seminary including Jose Ramos Horta
.
Until independence the medium of instruction was Bahasa.
In July 2000 the seminary was the venue for the marriage of East Timor President Xanana Gusmão and Kirsty Sword
.
In 2001 the seminary had about 30 Timorese candidates for the diocesan priesthood.
On 1 March 2007 the country's new Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, celebrated Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
before visiting the Seminary.
Father Lopes Mouzinho is the Rector of the Seminary in 2007. The grounds of the Seminary are still a sanctuary for thousands of refugees. It has become one of Dili's many Internally Displaced Persons Camps.
of Dili and Bishop Basilio do Nascimento
of Baucau, and others met at the Seminary on October 30, 2004 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Jesuit Father Leonardus Dibyawiyata who was the rector of the seminary from 1996 to 1999 also spoke on the occasion. The seminary has produced about 40 priests, including three Bishops. Hundreds of politicians and professionals also are graduates of the seminary.
In 2010 the Church in East Timor is also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Seminary, where 75 seminarians are preparing for the priesthood.
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...
was founded in 1936. The seminary was initially established in Manatutu district, south of Dili
Dili
Dili, spelled Díli in Portuguese, is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.-Geography and Administration:Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands....
. In 1951 it was moved to Dare. In 1954 the Vatican canonically registered the seminary. It was taken over by the Jesuits in 1958.
The seminary, which sits on the top ridge of the mountains
surrounding Dili, was for generations East Timor's most important
educational institute where almost every East Timorese leader was
educated.
In 1983 the St. Joseph’s High School
St. Joseph's High School, East Timor
St. Joseph’s High School is a high school in Dili, East Timor. It was founded by the Diocese of Dili in 1983/84, when East Timor was still part of Indonesia. In 1993 the school was entrusted to the Society of Jesus.In 1999 the school had 350 students and 42 teachers...
became a separate institution from the Minor Seminary. Among the students of the High School are approximately 50 seminarians.
The seminary was the only place where East Timorese could be educated beyond secondary school level and its alumni include a roll call of leaders including Nicolau dos Reis Lobato
Nicolau dos Reis Lobato
Nicolau dos Reis Lobato was an East-Timorese politician and national hero. He was born in 1952 in Bazartete, Portuguese Timor. Lobato was prime minister of East Timor from November 28 to December 7, 1975...
and 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."...
. Xanana Gusmão
Xanana Gusmão
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão GCL is a former militant who was the first President of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007...
spent four years at the seminary. Most of the Fretilin guerillas were educated at the Seminary including Jose Ramos Horta
José Ramos Horta
José Manuel Ramos-Horta , GCL is the President of East Timor, the second since independence from Indonesia, taking office on 20 May 2007...
.
Until independence the medium of instruction was Bahasa.
In July 2000 the seminary was the venue for the marriage of East Timor President Xanana Gusmão and Kirsty Sword
Kirsty Sword Gusmão
Kirsty Sword Gusmão is married to Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister and former President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste or East Timor...
.
In 2001 the seminary had about 30 Timorese candidates for the diocesan priesthood.
On 1 March 2007 the country's new Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, celebrated Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili is the main church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dili, East Timor.-History:Plans to build the cathedral began in 1984 with the Indonesian Government providing funding totalling about US$235,000...
before visiting the Seminary.
Father Lopes Mouzinho is the Rector of the Seminary in 2007. The grounds of the Seminary are still a sanctuary for thousands of refugees. It has become one of Dili's many Internally Displaced Persons Camps.
Milestones
The alumni of the seminary, including President Xanana Gusmão, Bishop Alberto Ricardo da SilvaAlberto Ricardo da Silva
Alberto Ricardo da Silva is the Roman Catholic bishop of Dili, East Timor.He was born in Aileu, on 24 April 1943 in East Timor when it was still a Portuguese colony...
of Dili and 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...
of Baucau, and others met at the Seminary on October 30, 2004 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Jesuit Father Leonardus Dibyawiyata who was the rector of the seminary from 1996 to 1999 also spoke on the occasion. The seminary has produced about 40 priests, including three Bishops. Hundreds of politicians and professionals also are graduates of the seminary.
In 2010 the Church in East Timor is also celebrating the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Seminary, where 75 seminarians are preparing for the priesthood.