Dili, September 12, 2026 (Media Democracia) – The faithful from various parishes in the Dioceses of Díli, Maliana and Baucau, with faith and devotion, participated in the Funeral Mass for the mortal remains of four Catholic prelates, which was held at the Tasi-Tolu Esplanade on Thursday (10/09).
The four Catholic prelates are: Dom Jaime Garcia Goulart, the First Bishop of the Diocese of Díli (1st Bishop of Díli); Dom José Joaquim Ribeiro, the Second Bishop of the Diocese of Díli (2nd Bishop of Díli); Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Díli; and Dom Alberto Ricardo da Silva, Bishop of the Diocese of Díli during the period 2004–2015.
The participation of Catholic faithful from various municipalities in the Funeral Mass for the four prelates showed their love, respect and faith for the religious leaders who, during their lives and pastoral service, held Timor-Leste in their hearts and accompanied the people in the process of the struggle for self-determination.
António Bento Correia, a parishioner from Vila Santo António Parish, Baucau, Diocese of Baucau, said that he came with other parishioners to participate in the Mass celebration and to pay tribute to the four Catholic prelates.
“TODAY we came together with all the faithful to attend the celebration for our four prelates, who today will be laid to rest and whose mortal remains will be taken to the Cathedral Church. We came together with all our parishioners. The parish organized vehicles that were offered by each of the faithful, and we also received support from the parish priest to bring us here. We left Baucau at noon, because the information we received was to be at Tasi-Tolu at three o’clock, and we have already arrived here,” António Bento Correia told journalists at Tasi-Tolu, Thursday (10/09).
António said that, as a Catholic, he feels deeply and considers it important to pay tribute to the four “shepherds” who, while Timor-Leste was not yet independent, proclaimed God’s Word and the Gospel in Timor-Leste.
“This is what makes us always keep in our memory that, as Catholic faithful, we have shepherds who have great value. Even though we faced difficult situations, they never abandoned us. They always accompanied us with prayer and visits to the people and the faithful,” António recounted.
He said that because of this, the feeling as a Catholic is to continue to follow and value the shepherds who have already left this world, but whose contribution will continue to live on in the Catholic Church and in the memory of the people of Timor-Leste.
In the same place, Agusta da Silva, from Bekora Parish, also came with her family to attend the Mass at Tasi-Tolu and to pay tribute to the four Catholic prelates.
“My feeling is very deep because of their struggle for the nation of Timor-Leste, which today has already achieved independence. They also did many things for this country, which makes me feel that we must express our gratitude. In the time of our grandparents, there were days when they did something that may have hurt them. Because of that, we ask for forgiveness and offer our request for pardon,” Agusta da Silva said.
She said that for future generations, they may receive something even better and live in an even more beautiful situation. That is why the faithful came to participate in the Mass at Tasi-Tolu to express gratitude and to ask forgiveness for everything that happened in the past.
According to an observation by Média Democracia at the site, during the Solemn Mass for the four prelates, security teams from PNTL, F-FDTL and the Scouts ensured security until the Mass ended. Afterward, the process of transferring the mortal remains of the four prelates to Sé Cathedral Díli was carried out according to funeral ceremony and concluded successfully.
Reporting: Octaviana Da Costa
Photo: Octaviana Da Costa