For more than 30 years, the friars of the Foundation of St. Antonio de Lisboa, Timor-Leste, carried out their pastoral work with the support of the Indonesian Province of St. Michael the Archangel.
However, as the vocation grew, so, too, did the burden of maintaining their facility, which had become increasingly full — with two to four friars occupying a single room.
This overcrowding compounded with the economic burden of housing the young friars on the surrounding community’s low income meant it was time to find a new way to expand their facilities and take care of the missionaries’ needs.
Land Grant Leads to Novitiate House
The first step toward this goal came in the form of a 2023, 20-hectare land grant from a local indigenous community, thus enabling the Foundation to establish plans for both a novitiate and a sanctuary of St. Anthony of Padua.
As of May 2025, the Foundation had raised enough money (more than $400,000 in donations from both local and overseas organizations) to construct the Novitiate of San Damiano We Lada, Timor-Leste, as well as a second building.
The Novitiate includes:
- Bedroom units for all novices
- One guest room
- Bathrooms
- Computer room
- Library
The Second Building includes:
- A chapel
- Dining room
- Study room
- Kitchen
In addition, the generous amount of donations received will continue to fund the friars’ tuition, liturgy, food, transportation, computers, internet access, sports, and social activities for years to come.
All of this support allows the friars to pursue their efforts in parish pastoral care, education, eco-pastoral care, and social pastoral care for those with disabilities.
Their expanded message of faith and caregiving throughout the community allows their vocation to grow: Every year an average of 30-40 candidates come to take the test for joining in postulancy.
And, while only around 15-20 people are ultimately accepted, this prospect of vocations in the Foundation points to tremendous blessings and continued stewardship for the Franciscan mission for generations to come.
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