225. – § I. – From the very first years of the curriculum of studies, suitable programs in diverse works of the apostolate should be methodically introduced under the guidance of experts; as far as possible these should take place during the academic year and particularly during vacation time, according to norms worked out by each province.
– “THE RELIGIOUS FORMATION OF CLERICAL BROTHERS”, The Book of Constitutions & Ordinations of the Friars of the Order of Preachers
Airport in Dili
A Dominican is a preacher. Mission exposure is thus a great opportunity for a student friar to be trained. I have had such a privilege for three and a half weeks in August in East Timor. East Timor is a new, Catholic nation in Southeast Asia. Our Province has started a mission there around 15 years ago. We run a high school in Hera, a suburb of the capital Dili, in addition to a flourishing Dominican youth community organized in multiple localities in the nation. I had expected my assignment to be easy due to the language barrier, so I was holding more of a field-observer attitude, trying to learn how our Fathers built the mission from scratch, together with the somewhat nascent nation. I will speak about my experience in my assignment, encounters, dialogues, and prayerful reflections in this precious exposure.
East Timor night sky
I had two assignments: assisting with the aspirant formation and helping two Grade 12 English classes. Father John Ko, the formator of aspirants, asked me to teach the two aspirants in Hera. I designed a two-week spiritual program aimed at accompanying them in making a conscious total self-giving and deepening both their spiritual and missionary dimensions. We had around eight sessions, each lasting 1 hour and 15 minutes, in which we covered topics such as arguments for God’s existence, the historicity of the Gospel, the model of intentional accompaniment, prayerful immersion into one’s past, and morality. There follows a 20-minute individual prayer. I met with them individually twice to more intensely accompany them. In the end, by God’s grace, their gratitude seems to show their substantial harvest in the two weeks of intentional accompaniment.
A view of our high school from our house
Moreover, I spent around eight sessions tutoring English individually with them in the two weeks. Such an immersive experience of the arduous but joyful task of intentional accompaniment not only trains my preaching and teaching aptitude, but also reveals to me that I do enjoy accompanying individuals.
St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Hera
Father Santiago, the head supervisor of our St. Thomas Aquinas school beside our house, asked me to accompany two grade 12 English classes for three weeks. I was mainly observing how the teacher taught and how the students reacted, though I did lead one entire session of activity for each class. I reflected that the students were lovely, and our mission is playing an important societal role, training Catholic builders of tomorrow of East Timor. I reflect that to construct a mission on such a scale relies on institutional teamwork–in contrast to individual work–made possible thanks to the vow of obedience. May the youth individually encounter Christ through our brothers’ work!
Celebration of the Confirmation of around 1000 persons in Hera
Another fruit of the exposure is my encounter with the people. On August 8th, I attended the perpetual profession of a Dominican sister. During the subsequent feast with the people, a common dancing started–apparently that is the tradition of Timorese celebration. Old ladies and men, young people, children, sisters, and friars danced exuberantly. Seeing their simple footwork and rhythmic gestures, under the background festal music, I saw their sincere joy. I thought about how I wished to have that joy, too. Sitting, I reflected deeply into my life and God’s vocation for me. God thus planted His word deep in my heart. Indeed missionaries are beneficiaries of the local culture.
East Timor coastline
This exposure also fostered communion among friars in the Province, through our communal times and dialogues, enriching me with their experience and committing me more to serve the Province’s mission. I have also benefited from my study and prayer over the past three weeks, as I have tried to balance the various indispensable elements of a friar’s life.
Overall, as a student friar, this mission exposure proves to be a treasure. I thank the Province for their formation arrangement.
Text and photo: Marcus Tan. August 28th, 2026.
On the way back to Macao