Padua reaching out to East Timor

Published: 31 July 2011

Timor partners: At Padua College recently are (from left) Franciscan Father Joel Pinto, Year 12 Padua student Darcy Charles, Year 12 St Francis school student Januario Freitas, Year 11 Padua student Harrison Pimm and Year 11 St Francis student Joaozito Soares

PADUA College, Kedron, has raised $29,000 - the highest yearly Lenten fundraising total in the past 20 years ­- for a project in East Timor.

Vice-rector Michael O'Brien said during the past two decades, the college had raised $382,000 for those in need.

"The first 13 years was supporting Project Compassion and for the last seven years (the college) has targeted specific Franciscan projects most notably in East Timor," Mr O'Brien.

"This year the school again focused on a project in Fatuberliu, East Timor (for the sixth year) where the Franciscans run a school called St Francis of Assisi High School."

Mr O'Brien said almost the whole of St Francis of Assisi High School was destroyed when the Indonesian militia groups left East Timor in September 1999.

"The Timorese often tell us 'we are going to develop our country through education'," he said.

"Padua is respecting their wishes and striving to provide more Timorese children with the opportunity of an education."

Mr O'Brien said there were more than 650 students attending the St Francis of Assisi High School with no one turned away.

He said Franciscan Father Joel Pinto, who is principal at St Francis school, and two students recently visited Padua as part of an on-going relationship developed between the two schools.

"This follows the successful visit by Padua staff members Mark Taylor and myself along with students Nathan Ketlehohn and Darcy Charles last November," he said.

Mr O'Brien said the East Timor students were hosted by Padua families who showed them something of Brisbane life during their stay.

Year 12 St Francis student Januario Freitas said Brisbane was a great place to live, with plenty of opportunities.

He said Padua would like to take more students to St Francis school but it was difficult due to the school's remoteness.

Mr O'Brien said St Francis school was an eight-hour drive from Dili over rugged terrain and narrow roadways.
"This has made it difficult to take too many people at one time there," he said.

"The school and the parishes, also administered by the Franciscan Friars, are in some of the poorest parts of this new nation.

"One day we will have more of our students visit and work in Fr Joel's school."