Alberto Ricardo da Silva
Encyclopedia
Alberto Ricardo da Silva is the Roman Catholic bishop of Dili
, East Timor
.
He was born in Aileu, on 24 April 1943 in East Timor when it was still a Portuguese colony. He studied in the minor seminary of Dili and was sent to Macao to study philosophy, and to Portugal to study theology in the major seminary of Leira.
He was ordained a priest on 15 August 1972 in Portugal and served as vicar general of Dili 1980-1992. He holds a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome.
Father da Silva's duties have included spiritual director and later rector at the Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima
in Dare. He was rector of the Major Seminary of SS Peter and Paul
in Dili at the time of his episcopal appointment.
Pope John Paul II named him as bishop of Dili on 27 February 2004 and he was ordained bishop on May 2. The Bishop's took for his new motto "Servus Verbi Domini" (Servant of the Word of God).
He was ordained by Bishop Basilio do Nascimento
of Baucau, East Timor, in the presence of 7 bishops from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, and Portugal. Nearly 30,000 people attended the ordination at Immaculate Conception cathedral, including Secretary of the Apostolic Nuniature in Indonesia, Msgr. Novatus Rugambwa, the President of East Timor Xanana Gusmão
, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri
, along with Cabinet members and foreign envoys.
On 5 December 2005, he wrote to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to reiterate the importance of justice to the people East Timor. He was concerned that politicians want to bury the truth to ensure that there is no accountability for those responsible for the atrocities committed from 1975 to 1999. He strongly urged the Secretary General to recommend that the Security Council adopt a Resolution under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to create an international tribunal for East Timor.
On April 1, 2007 the Bishop told some 2,000 young Catholics during Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
to commemorate the 22nd World Youth Day
, to forgive each other, reconcile and forge ahead in rebuilding their violence-racked country.
Dili
Dili, spelled Díli in Portuguese, is the capital, largest city, chief port and commercial centre of East Timor.-Geography and Administration:Dili lies on the northern coast of Timor island, the easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands....
, East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
.
He was born in Aileu, on 24 April 1943 in East Timor when it was still a Portuguese colony. He studied in the minor seminary of Dili and was sent to Macao to study philosophy, and to Portugal to study theology in the major seminary of Leira.
He was ordained a priest on 15 August 1972 in Portugal and served as vicar general of Dili 1980-1992. He holds a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome.
Father da Silva's duties have included spiritual director and later rector at the Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima
Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima
The Minor Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima, the oldest Roman Catholic Seminary in East Timor was founded in 1936. The seminary was initially established in Manatutu district, south of Dili. In 1951 it was moved to Dare. In 1954 the Vatican canonically registered the seminary...
in Dare. He was rector of the Major Seminary of SS Peter and Paul
Seminary of SS Peter and Paul
The Seminary of SS Peter and Paul is a Roman Catholic Seminary in Dili, East Timor. It is the country’s only Major Seminary named after the Saints Peter and Paul. It is located in Fatumeta....
in Dili at the time of his episcopal appointment.
Pope John Paul II named him as bishop of Dili on 27 February 2004 and he was ordained bishop on May 2. The Bishop's took for his new motto "Servus Verbi Domini" (Servant of the Word of God).
He was ordained by Bishop Basilio do Nascimento
Basilio do Nascimento
Basílio do Nascimento Martins is the Roman Catholic bishop of Baucau, East Timor.He was born on June 14, 1950, in Suai, then Portuguese Timor and ordained priest in Évora, in 1977...
of Baucau, East Timor, in the presence of 7 bishops from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, and Portugal. Nearly 30,000 people attended the ordination at Immaculate Conception cathedral, including Secretary of the Apostolic Nuniature in Indonesia, Msgr. Novatus Rugambwa, the President of East Timor Xanana Gusmão
Xanana Gusmão
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão GCL is a former militant who was the first President of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007...
, Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri
Mari Alkatiri
Mari Bim Amude Alkatiri was the first Prime Minister of an internationally-recognized East Timor. He served from May 2002 until he resigned on 26 June 2006 following weeks of political unrest in the country...
, along with Cabinet members and foreign envoys.
On 5 December 2005, he wrote to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
to reiterate the importance of justice to the people East Timor. He was concerned that politicians want to bury the truth to ensure that there is no accountability for those responsible for the atrocities committed from 1975 to 1999. He strongly urged the Secretary General to recommend that the Security Council adopt a Resolution under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to create an international tribunal for East Timor.
On April 1, 2007 the Bishop told some 2,000 young Catholics during Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili is the main church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dili, East Timor.-History:Plans to build the cathedral began in 1984 with the Indonesian Government providing funding totalling about US$235,000...
to commemorate the 22nd World Youth Day
World Youth Day
World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all youth, regardless of religious convictions....
, to forgive each other, reconcile and forge ahead in rebuilding their violence-racked country.