“Why can’t all Sundays capture the essence of days like this?”
Our little community of St Canice’s comes out on a sunny Sunday morning in numbers, not only to celebrate the feast of St Ignatius but to support our sister parish in Railaco East Timor. After Mass, we mingle and chat with old friends over morning tea.
Much of our time was spent with the children at NOSSEF – the school in Railaco. The separate boys’ and girls’ dormitories for boarders at NOSSEF are life-changing. Without them, many students would have to travel upward of three hours each day to get to and from school.
It was a delight to teach the students in Railaco as they were all eager to learn and to loved hearing our stories about Australia. (I am sure our teachers at Riverview wished we were always so attentive in class).
Railaco Family Can I have a minute of your time! As you know, I get great fulfilment from being involved in a Jesuit Mission in Railaco, East Timor . . . . the comfort of being good neighbours to each other. Even after recent Independence, people still struggle to make
It’s a quantum step forward for our relationship with Railaco to have a group of interested people around a table at the new St Canice Hub. They are keen to know more about how our Railaco relationship works and curious about how we raised a million dollars in a small parish environment since the start of the program.
Railaco – 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐄𝐲𝐞𝐬
From our perspective, it’s important to have a representative group of new people of different ages to come on board to better understand the achievements in Railaco, and hopefully to get personally involved.
𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫
We’re backing a winner with Railaco. The whole St Canice Railaco project is a combined success story. The Feeding Program, Medical Clinic and Secondary School have ultimately been about social empowerment. Starting from pure handouts when they really needed it after the departure of Indonesian occupiers, the Railaco project has been evolving towards empowerment.
It’s a winner and it’s going somewhere. The Railaco parish needs us more than ever to maintain the momentum.
Thank you to the incredible generosity from the Sydney based Jesuit parish, St Canice, who has been a phenomenal supporter and companion to its sister Parish in Railaco, Timor-Leste since 2004.
During their recent St Ignatius Feast Day appeal, St Canice’s was able to reach a significant milestone of raising over $1 million for Railaco – thanks to 18 years of commitment and steadfast support from the St Canice’s community. “St Canice community, thank you! You found us at our rock bottom and you lifted us by feeding our hungry, providing service for our sick, and providing education to our youth! Thank you and God bless you for following Him in the mission,” said Fr Bong Abad Santos SJ, who runs the mobile medical clinic in Railaco.
Fr Bong writes to us from Railaco:
St Canice community, thank you!
You have made us millionaires!
We are your poor sister community that by God’s grace made rich!
Our relationship goes back to 2004 when you found us at our rock bottom and you lifted us by feeding our hungry, providing service for our sick, & providing education to our youth!
Thank you & God bless you for following Him in the mission!!!
My life changing Railaco Experience by Dan Elias . . .
Thank you, Fr Sacha.
Good morning and thank you for welcoming me into your beautiful parish to share what were incredible and humbling experiences on my recent visit in Railaco, Timor-Leste.
Being a proud father of two young children, I look at life not only through my eyes, but with my children’s future in mind. Returning from Railaco, I say to them:
“Alessandra and Jayson, Daddy’s eyes and heart were opened beyond belief. I now wish to show you how to live your lives with your eyes wide open. Don’t be ok with just being fortunate and comfortable, learn to make your small contribution to those who so desperately need it.”
Celebration, flags, colour, music and mingling at St Canice’s on the Feast Day of St Ignatius inspires a sense of ‘Festa’. Freshly cut banana trees on the columns and at the doorways of the church bring a sense of Railaco to our doorstep here in Elizabeth Bay. Fanfare of organ, trumpet and violin introduce our Entrance Hymn, ‘Christ is Made our Sure Foundation’. It reminds us of the ‘sure foundation’ St Canice’s laid in establishing our sister parish relationship with the Railaco Jesuit Mission 18 years ago.
Most importantly, Fr Sacha Goldman SJ celebrates the Eucharist with a gentle dignity. That prayerful act – whether richly involved like today, or simple – is the centrepiece of all that we hold dear.
. . . Education is one of the most important things for the present and the future of the Timorese people.
By donating money, you are planting seeds of hope for the future of this country. Don’t forget that. You are proclaiming the gospel of solidarity and generosity for the faith of our young Catholic generations.
Thank you for your prayerful support and concrete financial help. The people of Railaco need not only money, but also love and attention from people from far away.
