In his visits to South East Asia, Pope Francis went to, and called us all to go to, the peripheries. In Timor-Leste he was delighted with the faith of the people.
In the last year I met a number of young people who had come to Beresfield and Thornton from one of the peripheries, Timor-Leste. They attend Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes, Beresfield, or St Joseph’s, East Maitland, bringing their joy and reverence.
When the priests spoke at Mass of the Pope’s going to Timor-Leste, tangible joy flowed through them.
Last Saturday evening after the vigil Mass, Angela Soares happily chatted with her friends as they headed home. She had talked with her Mum, Ana Maria, the day before.
On Sunday a call came that her Mum was suddenly ill. Another call followed to say her Mum had died. It was a great shock.
Word was spread and twenty or more of her Australian Timorese ‘family’ gathered with Angela in the share-house where she lives.
Led by one of the young women, they prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary in Tetum. “It was very holy, very special”, they said.
In the share-house there are several who are not Christian from Vietnam, China and Malaysia, who were very respectful and quiet as the friends prayed. None of them had known each other before they met in Australia or in Timor-Leste when they were applying to come. “Now”, they said, ”we are each other’s family and we look after each other.”
It was Angela’s wish that she and her friends be in the church on Tuesday at the time of her mother’s funeral in Timor-Leste, and then to attend Mass together, and go to the cemetery.
Angela, holding to her heart a lovely photo of her mother, which her friend had had framed, arrived at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Tuesday morning with her friends who were not working that day.
After silence, interspersed with words of Jesus and simple prayer, all then left to meet again at St Joseph’s where 5.30 pm Mass was celebrated for Angela’s mother.
Unexpected joy came after Mass when a young man offered sympathy and said he had been deployed to Timor-Leste in 1999 with the Australian military and named places he had been, Baucau, Lospalos, Balibo, … Their sad young faces lit up! It was as if someone had arrived from home! Instead of being so far from home, here was someone who knew their beloved country. It was very moving.
After Mass, a convoy of us left for the cemetery. As it was very dark, all that could be seen were the little lights on graves and the large cross in the centre of the cemetery.
As one, in silence, we walked swiftly to the cross, where the photograph was placed at the base of the cross. One or two young men passed out lighted candles which were placed either side of the photo.
Gathered closely in front of the cross, no word was spoken. Eyes brimmed but there were no tears. Some hands touched the cross. All was in reverent silence. Each knew what was to be done. The ritual at the cemetery was a non-negotiable part of their prayer for the dead.
Eternal rest to Ana Maria Soares 15.9.2024.
Jan Tranter rsj
