Who We Are

Mary MacKillop East Timor, established on 8th August 1994, fosters a range of educational opportunities for the advancement of East Timorese people by:

• assisting the Church in East Timor in the work of literacy education, particularly through the Tetun language;
• supporting the well-being of all East Timorese people where a need is perceived or help is sought in health education, advocacy, humanitarian assistance, other educational opportunities and cultural initiatives.

The work began with the response of the Sisters of St Joseph to the people of East Timor at the request of Bishop Carlos Belo. This response has grown to include a variety of religious congregations and individuals who recognise the particular gift which Mary MacKillop has brought to the Church, and who wish to co-operate in that spirit with the East Timorese people in the building up of their society.
The main organisations which have staff currently involved are:

Sisters of St Joseph (RSJ) www.sosj.org.au
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) www.olsh.org.au
Little Company of Mary (LCM) www.lcm.org.au

During his visit to Sydney in 1993, Bishop Belo visited the Josephite Chapel in North Sydney and prayed at the tomb of Blessed Mary MacKillop. Afterwards, in an interview with the Sisters of St Joseph, Bishop Belo spoke of his hope for "...the building up of a new society in peace, reconciliation and forgiveness."

In March 1995, Bishop Belo decided and announced that a Tetun language program would be introduced into the schools of his diocese as from July 1995. Since then, members of Mary MacKillop East Timor, in association with Sister Josephine Mitchell RSJ, the Director, have regularly visited East Timor to confer more directly with the clergy, teachers and other authorities of the Diocese of Dili about the needs of the people, and to implement the literacy program and associated activities.

About Our Work

Our bases are in Sydney and in Dili.  Some of our members reside in Timor-Leste, while others travel between the two countries, providing a cross-cultural link of friendship and support.

We have a large network of supporters and co-workers in East Timor itself. We enjoy the wide-ranging help of various members and associates of the Sisters of St Joseph and other religious congregations, as well as East Timorese social and cultural organisations in Australia.

Other East Timorese translators and interested people render essential support, along with generous artists and helpers who give their valuable time and assistance. With Tetun declared an official language of the Democratic Republic of East Timor (Constitution, Article 13), authorities in East Timor have emphasized the importance of the work and have encouraged us to continue. In December of 2003 we received personal, official recognition in the form of a Letter of Appreciation from the President of East Timor, Mr Xanana Gusmão.

How to contact us

Mary MacKillop East Timor
(20 Mamre Road, St Marys)
PO Box 299
St Marys NSW 1790

Phone: (02) 9623 2847
Fax: (02) 9623 1573
Email: general@mmiets.org.au

How can you help us to carry out our valuable work?
Read this to find out...