Norberto do Amaral

The Most Reverend

Norberto do Amaral
Bishop of Maliana
Amaral in 2020
Amaral in 2020
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Province
  • Díli
  • (since 11 September 2019)
DioceseMaliana
Appointed30 January 2010
PredecessorOffice established
Other post(s)
Orders
Ordination18 October 1988
Consecration24 April 2010
by Leopoldo Girelli
Personal details
Born
Norberto do Amaral

(1956-02-17) 17 February 1956 (age 68)
Ainaro, Portuguese Timor
(now East Timor)
NationalityEast Timorese
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma mater
Motto
  • Veritas in Caritate
  • ('Truth through Caring')[1]
Coat of armsNorberto do Amaral's coat of arms

Norberto do Amaral (born 17 February 1956) is the Roman Catholic Bishop of Maliana, East Timor. He was appointed on 30 January 2010. Previously, he served as an assistant pastor and as a pastor, as Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary in the Diocese of Díli, and in other offices in the Catholic Church in East Timor.

Early life and education

Amaral was born in Ainaro in the then Portuguese Timor (now East Timor), and attended the local elementary Catholic school. Between 1981 and 1983, he studied philosophy at the Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima at Dare in the then Dili District.[2]

In 1984, Amaral carried out a year of pastoral ministry in the parish of Ossu, in the then Viqueque District. From 1985 to 1988, he studied theology at the Major Seminary of St. Peter in Ritapiret, Flores, Indonesia.[2]

Ministry

Priesthood

On 18 October 1988, Amaral was ordained as a priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Díli. He later served in the following positions in that diocese: Assistant Pastor of the Parish of Ainaro, 1988; Pastor of the Parish of Maubisse, 1989–2000; Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary in Dili, 2000–2004.[2]

In 2005–2007, Amaral undertook studies for a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. From 2007, he was Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Prefect of Studies at the Major Seminary in Dili. From 2008, he served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Dili and Director of the Diocesan Magazine Seara.[2]

Episcopacy

When Pope Benedict XVI erected the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maliana on 30 January 2010, he appointed Amaral as its first bishop.[2][3] Amaral was consecrated by Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the then apostolic nuncio to East Timor, on 24 April 2010, with Alberto Ricardo da Silva, Bishop of Díli, and Basílio do Nascimento, Bishop of Baucau, as co-consecrators,[1][4] and was installed the following day.[1]

The consecration ceremony was held at the Sanctuary of John Paul II, in Tasitolu, Dili,[5] and the installation took place in Maliana.[6]

In August 2015, Amaral joined with Archbishop Girelli, Bishop Nascimento, 8,000 faithful, and Archbishop Joseph Marino, the new apostolic nuncio to East Timor, in a celebration of 500 years of the Catholic Church's presence in East Timor. The main celebrant was Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.[7]

On 20 June 2017, Amaral blessed the new Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão International Airport in Suai during its official inauguration. Also present were President Francisco Guterres, Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araújo, former President and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão and many government and church leaders.[8]

Three months later, on 26 September 2017, Archbishop Marino, Bishop Nascimento and Amaral all attended the opening of St. Joseph Seminary, the country's second minor seminary, in Amaral's diocese. The new seminary, located within a refurbished building owned by a local diocesan school, was set to begin with 22 students.[9]

In 2019, Amaral took office as President of the Episcopal Conference of Timor Leste [de] (CET), in place of its inaugural President, Bishop Nascimento.[10][11]

On 26 March 2020, Amaral, along with Archbishop Virgílio do Carmo da Silva and Bishop Nascimento, signed a statement confirming a decision of the Timorese Episcopal Conference cancelling mass during Easter in the whole of East Timor, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12] In May 2020, the three bishops issued a statement officially reopening churches for Eucharistic celebrations.[13]

In early March 2022, in the lead up to that month's presidential election in East Timor, Amaral, together with Archbishop do Carmo da Silva and Father Alipio Pinto Gusmao, Administrator of the Baucau diocese, sent a pastoral letter to all Catholics stating that politics is a "sacrament",[14] and asserting that:

"All Christians involved in politics should live a political ethos based on the teachings of the Church about how to be a good person in the world and that faith in God should be used to measure politics."[14]

In April 2023, ahead of that year's East Timorese parliamentary election on 21 May, Amaral called upon politicians to "take a role in maintaining peace and stability" rather than "attack each other or spread hatred in the presence of supporters."[15]

Personal life

At the end of February 2022, Amaral underwent intensive treatment at Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV) in Dili for hypertension.[16] In March 2022, he flew to Malaysia for further medical treatment.[17] He returned the following month.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Diocese of Maliana: Bishop Norberto do Amaral". Union of Catholic Asian News. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e "ASIA/EAST TIMOR - Diocese of Maliana erected, first Bishop appointed". Agenzia Fides. 30 January 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Pope Benedict XVI erects new diocese in East Timor". Dili, East Timor. Catholic News Agency. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Terceiro bispo timorense fica à frente da diocese de Maliana" [Third Timorese bishop takes charge of Maliana diocese]. Diário de Notícias (in European Portuguese). 25 April 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Ordination of New Bishop". Government of Timor-Leste. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Maliana Diocese Investiture of the new Prelate". Government of Timor-Leste. 5 May 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  7. ^ Harson, Siktus (17 August 2015). "Timor-Leste commemorates 500 years of Church presence". Union of Catholic Asian News. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Inauguration of Suai Airport". Government of Timor-Leste. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  9. ^ Ora, Thomas (29 September 2017). "New seminary looks to beat priest shortage in Timor-Leste". Union of Catholic Asian News. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Conferência Episcopal Timorense" [Conference of Bishops]. GCatholic. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Timor Leste". Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  12. ^ Tempo Timor (26 March 2020). "Catholic Church in Timor-Leste cancels mass during Easter". Tempo Timor. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  13. ^ Ora, Thomas (29 May 2020). "Masses resume in Timor-Leste churches". Union of Catholic Asian News. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  14. ^ a b RVA News (7 March 2022). "Bishops: Politics in Democracy is a Sacrament". Radio Veritas Asia. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  15. ^ RVA News (21 April 2023). "Bishop calls for peace as Timor-Leste politics 'heat up' ahead of elections". Radio Veritas Asia. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  16. ^ a b Colo, Cipriano (13 April 2022). "Bispu Maliana To'o Hikas TL Hafoin Hala'o Tratamentu Saúde iha Malázia" [The Bishop of Maliana arrives in TL after health treatment in Malaysia]. Hatutan.com (in Tetum). Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  17. ^ Salvadór, Vito (23 March 2022). "Dom Norberto Amaral Ba Halo Tratamentu Saúde iha Malázia" [Bishop Norberto Amaral goes to Malaysia for health treatment]. Hatutan.com (in Tetum). Retrieved 11 June 2023.
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Catholic Church titles
New title Bishop of Maliana
2010–present 		Incumbent

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