Last Saturday (April 24, 2010), Couples for Christ Timor Leste, represented by 2010 Mission Head Anthony Rodriguez and Family Ministries Missionary Karen dela Cerna, were privileged to join the thousands of faithful who converged on Tasi-tolu, the historic site where our beloved Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in 1989.
It was the occasion of the ordination of His Grace Bishop Dom Norberto do Amaral, as Bishop to the newly erected Diocese of Maliana. The event was telecast live on national television and an estimated 30,000 people attended, composed of clergy, religious and laity. Various bishops from Australia, Macau, Indonesia and Brunei joined in the auspicious event.
(Pictures below show: 1. The ordination ceremony 2. Bishop Cornelius Sim of the Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam with Jorge Teme, CFC member and Oe-cusse State Secretary and his wife, Tina Teme, with Missionaries of Charity sisters) 3. CFC TL Family Ministries Missionary Karen dela Cerna with Bishop Dom Basilio do Nascimento of Baucau Diocese)
Who is Bishop Norberto Do Amaral?
(CFC TL 2010 Mission Head Anthony Rodriguez with newly-ordained Bishop Dom Norberto do Amaral )
He was ordained priest on October 18, 1988 for the Diocese of Dili. He subsequently ministered as follows: 1988: Assistant Pastor of the Parish of Ainaro, 1989-2000: Pastor of the Parish of Maubisse, 2000-2004: Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary in Dili, 2005-2007: Studies for a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Urban University in Rome. Since 2007: Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Prefect of Studies at the Major Seminary in Dili. From 2008 up to his recent ordination, he served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Dili and Director of the Diocesan Magazine “Seara.”
With the installation of Bishop Norberto, there are now three bishops serving the over one million Catholics in Timor Leste. The addition of the new bishop will also then qualify Timor Leste to have its own Archbishop which is normally elected from the numbers of bishop present. The archbishop will then reside in Dili and at the same time be the bishop of Dili.
The diocese of Maliana (nom. lat. Malianensis), includes the administrative region of Maliana in three districts (Liquica, Bobonaro, and Cova-Lima) and 16 sub-districts. It borders the Diocese of Dili to its East and that of Atambua (Indonesia) to its West. The parish church of Maliana, dedicated to the “Sagrado Coração de Jesus,” (Sacred Heart of Jesus) is now considered the Cathedral of the new diocese.
Maliana Diocese is formed of 10 parishes serving just over 200,000 Catholics, who represent more than 98% of the area's population. Six diocesan and 25 non-diocesan priests, along with 108 religious brothers and sisters, are assigned within the new diocese's limits. The Diocese of Dili was divided to create the new diocese, which now joins the Diocese of Baucau as the nation's third.
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