Bishop Dominikus Saku of Atambua blessed a new house for retired diocesan priests on October 22. The blessing ceremony in the Belu district of Atambua, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, was conducted during a Holy Mass, which was attended by hundreds of Catholics. “It is the time for the local Church to be self-reliant and help build the universal Church. Therefore, mission work is not only the responsibility of priests but also of the laity,” Bishop Saku said. “So I call on all laypeople to always serve the Church,” he said. He hoped that by living in the new house, retired diocesan priests will be able to reflect on the work they have done and offer good advice for young diocesan priests. Construction of the new house began in July 2010 and cost about one billion rupiah (US$112,500), which was donated by the family of Felix Go, a successful businessman and benefactor of the Church who died recently. The new house has eight bedrooms, a guest room, a living room, a prayer room and a dining room. Three diocesan priests will stay in the new house. Father Gerard Herry Fernandes, Praeses (spiritual director) of the Lo’o Damian Major Seminary in nearby Lalian, praised the family for building the new house. “This family is an inspiration. What they have done for the local Church is a materialization of faith,” said the head of the diocese’s Commission for Social Communications.
