Catholic church Dili

Church in Dili

THERE ARE:

1. Immaculate Conception Cathedral church, Dili
2. Santo António de Motael church, Dili
3. Imaculada Conceição de Balide church, Dili
4. Sacrojes church, Dili
5. Bedois church, Dili

1. Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili

The Immaculate Conception Metropolitan Cathedral (Portuguese: Catedral Metropolitana da Imaculada Conceição) in Dili is the main church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dili, East Timor.

History

Plans to build the cathedral began in 1984 with the Indonesian Government providing funding totalling about US$235,000. The cathedral, situated on a 10,000-square-meter plot, measures 1,800 square meters and can hold 2,000 people. Indonesian President Soeharto on 2 November 1988 officially inaugurated Dili's new Catholic cathedral, reportedly the largest in Southeast Asia. The ceremony was attended by Dili's apostolic administrator, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.

In October 1989 it was blessed by Pope John Paul II.

The cathedral played an important part in the country’s independence struggle, with leaders like the Noble Laureate Bishop Belo advising people to go into the country’s election with the spirit of humility of Jesus Christ.

The Church of San Antonio de Motael was the pro-cathedral of Dili before the cathedral was constructed.

2. Santo António de Motael church 

This waterfront Catholic church, fronted by a pretty garden, was one of the most important places in the story of the fight for Timorese independence. Sebastião Gomes was shot dead here in 1991 by the Indonesian military; his funeral parade to Santa Cruz Cemetery attracted thousands and resulted in the Santa Cruz Massacre.

History

Some of this section is translated from the existing German Wikipedia article at de: Santo António de Motael; see its history for attribution.

During the Portuguese colonial era, the district of Motael was the center of Portuguese life in Dili. A church was first built at the present location around the year 1800, on land gifted by the liurai of "Mota-a in".

A reconstruction of the church was started around 1901. The completion date is unknown, but there are records of a completed church dating back to 1937. However, at that time the building did not have the bell tower and portico that it has today.

The building was partially destroyed by Japanese air raids during the Second World War. It was rebuilt in 1955 and served as the de facto cathedral for the diocese of Dili until the inauguration of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in 1989.

In 1975, in the turmoil of the withdrawal of the Portuguese from Timor, some Fretilin members decided to go occupy the church, perceiving it as an icon of colonialism. However, just before they reached the building, their leader fell from the truck and broke his clavicle. The group interpreted this event as divine intervention and aborted the operation.

The church played an important role in the independence struggle. On 27 October 1991, young independence activists tried to demonstrate against the Indonesian occupation. While the Indonesian security forces ran after them, pastor Alberto Ricardo da Silva offered them protection in the church. At night, the Indonesians stormed the church and shot activist Sebastião Gomes, who then bled to death. On 12 November 1991, after the memorial service for Gomes, a demonstration started in front of the church and led to the Santa Cruz massacre, in which at least 271 people were killed by Indonesian security forces.

During the 2006 East Timorese crisis, as many as 500 people took refuge in the church.

3. Imaculada Conceição de Balide church, Dili

4. Sacrojes church, Dili

5. Bedois church, Dili