After a (long) while in Baucau and still without a functional internet connection, finally I am back in Dili and so here I am again.
Several things are happened during the last weeks but today I want to talk about one of the element which enrich strongly the area where my project is going on and let me say, also my experience here in Timor-Leste.
I want to talk about an Italian priest named Padre Locatelli. He is a very interesting and special man and his story is so complex, long and interesting that I am not that one able or accredited to write down about it here. The only thing I would like to do it is just to introduce him and to show some pics from my first visit in a community together with him.
Padre Locatelli is originating from the north Italian city of Bergamo but he spent long periods in Turin where he was engaged in theology studies at the local Salesians college. After to complete his studies, during the 1960s he was sent as missionary to the nowadays Indian city but at that time Portuguese colony of Goa. He served there as missionary for several year until the British invasion. As catholic missionary which means represented of the Portuguese system, Padre Locatelli was displaced person out of the country. Following the Portuguese colonies, in 1964 he arrived in Timor-Leste, as at those time it was still an integrant part of the Lusitanian territory. He was sent to the Salesians school of Fatumaca in the Baucau district, where in fact he is still living and working.
In so long time in Timor Padre Locatelli had the chance to know personally the last part of the Portuguese time in the islan, the Indonesian invasion in 1975, the struggle for the independence until the proclamation referendum 1999 and the United Nation transitory regency until nowadays complete autonomy of the youngest democracy of the world. According with the Padre Locatelli personal life story it is easy to find out a strict symmetry with the Timor-Leste history. He gained a vast popularity from the population in the rual area especially in Baucau district but at the same time he is highly listened also to the highest political spheres. As I already said I am not the right person who is able to write about the personal story of such man and here is not the right place to do it. Just I wanted to present a person which is fundamental in my Timor-Leste experience as well as for my project activities.
As I am new in Timor-Leste as well as in Baucau, to use my easy contact due to my common origins with Padre Locatelli was an obligation. Because that the two agronomist introduced me to Padre Locatelli in one of our visit to the valley. In order to get familiar with him and with the area but especially with the local people I immediately asked to P. Locatelli if I could follow him in one of his visit in the communities. In fact P. Locatelli uses to visit several communities in the Seiçal Valley in rotation every week end in order to celebrate the Mass. Moreover he utilizes the time to spend together with the people in order to keep in touch with the population and the economical and social development of the area. For instead he is the promoter of several local development project especially in the field of irrigation.
It was one of my first visit in the south west past of the Seiçal Valley and I really enjoy to go together with P. Locatelli in the rough track with his Land Rover. Here some pics.
