Close to 1,000 members of the East Timorese community of Victoria gathered in Altona on Sunday 6 July for a special Mass celebrated by Cardinal Virgilio do Carmo da Silva. Families travelled from as far as Warrnambool and Colac to attend the celebration and meet Timor-Leste’s first Cardinal-Archbishop.
It marks the first visit to Melbourne for the Cardinal, who was appointed Cardinal-Archbishop of Dili in 2022 by Pope Francis. In 2024, the late pontiff visited Timor-Leste—on one of his last international trips—a country where 97 per cent of the population identify as Catholic Christian.
On Sunday, seats filled up fast in the school hall of Mount St Joseph Girls’ College, with the event beginning with Mass followed by a cultural presentation and lunch.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first wave of Timorese in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are more than 5,000 people living in Victoria who are originally from Timor-Leste.
The first group that arrived in 1975 consisted mainly of refugees fleeing Timor-Leste after Indonesia invaded the country and violence ensued. The second wave arrived in 1986 as part of family reunification efforts, and the third more recent group of migrants arrived post-independence and consists mainly of seasonal workers and students.
‘The Cardinal’s visit has galvanised all three [groups] together to come and receive him,’ shared Jose Pirez, a committee member of the Timorese Association of Victoria. ‘It has helped galvanise our community, with people here from right across Melbourne.
We are strong and united in two things, two pillars that hold our community and that hold each and every one of us: our culture and our faith.
‘Some of the seasonal workers have come from as far as Colac and Warrnambool today. They’ve all been participating and rehearsing for the choir, and for a traditional welcome for the Cardinal.
‘We face a lot of challenges when we come to a new land,’ Jose said. ‘Different cultures, different languages, different food and, of course, the weather! But we are strong and united in two things—two pillars that hold our community and that hold each and every one of us: our culture and our faith.
‘And the [Cardinal] Archbishop being here today helps strengthen each and every one of us so that we can face those challenges.’
Fr Michael Kalka, parish priest at Mary Help of Christians Altona, welcomed the Cardinal on behalf of the community and did so gamely by speaking in the Timorese language of Tetum. Fr Deonildo de Andrade, a Timorese priest in residence at Altona Parish, said the gathering was an opportunity for local Timorese—especially the newly arrived—to remember and celebrate their identity.
‘I think there’s a good energy to share together as a Timorese community. Our faith and culture has united us,’ he said. ‘And it’s like calling back all of Timorese here in Melbourne to come and remember … so that wherever they go, they still know where they come from.
The cultural performances remind all the Timorese of their identity, Fr Deonildo said, because ‘when they know their identity, then they can share that identity with others. And I think this makes Melbourne more multicultural and diverse.’
Cardinal da Silva expressed his gratitude to the parish and school community for hosting the Timorese community, and to Catholic Mission, who helped make his visit to Melbourne possible.
Our mission in this world is to bring peace to the human family and harmony to society.
In his homily, the Cardinal likened the experience of migration with taking up the gospel call to be missionary.
‘Every person who has been baptised and has received the power of water and the Holy Spirit is called to go out and preach Christ.
‘A great challenge for the mission today is that people don’t want to leave their comfort zones. They choose to stay in their own groups, fearful and reluctant to share with others. … Jesus calls these people to leave their comfort and preach, give their lives and time, and share what they have with others who are in dire need of their presence and help.
‘Our mission in this world is to bring peace to the human family and harmony to society. In a world full of hatred, revenge, war and violence, Jesus calls us all to bring joy, peace, and reconciliation, so that we may become bridges that connect loving relationships among all people.
‘God’s field is vast, but the workers are few. Let us pray that he warms the hearts of more Christians with missionary zeal and a missionary lifestyle, so that they give themselves for the Lord and serve their brothers and sisters who are poor, unloved and in need of attention.’
New parents Antonio and Isabel attended the event with their five-month-old baby. Antonio, who grew up in Timor-Leste but is now working in Victoria, was proud to have had his only child blessed by the Cardinal. ‘I’m so excited to meet the Cardinal of my country,’ he shared.
Community member Deolinda Dacunha arrived in Australia during one of the first waves of migration by the Timorese and said she felt uplifted at seeing the community gather in such big numbers for the Cardinal’s visit.
‘It’s good to bring all the community together, because we are spread everywhere in Victoria,’ said Deolinda. ‘It’s been a while that we didn’t see [each other] to socialise and to share, and some of them came from so far.
‘[Today’s Mass] was so very beautiful. It was enlightening and guiding us not to lose hope,’ she said. ‘Our faith is our culture, and we hope that we continue to be strong, even though we are outside Timor-Leste.’
