"Mary MacKillop East Timor 1994-2006"

During his visit to Sydney in 1993, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, Apostolic Administrator of Dili, 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.”

It was in response to his appeal for help with the work of education in his large and troubled diocese, and after consultation with members of the East Timorese community in Australia, that the Mary MacKillop Institute of East Timorese Studies was established on August 8, 1994.

During the next tumultuous decade the Timorese people continued their struggle and became the first new nation of the present millennium on May 20, 2002.  In a spirit of solidarity and friendship, we are privileged to work with the people of Timor-Leste as they build their future.

In 2005 our name was changed to Mary MacKillop East Timor. During that year the Ministry of Education and UNICEF asked that our books and resources be made available for use by all the children in the primary schools of Timor-Leste and in 2006 that initiative became a reality.

Our history book "Mary MacKillop East Timor 1994 - 2006" by Margaret Press rsj and Susan Connelly rsj is available for $25 plus postage. All profits to our many works. Click here to order your copy.