Timor

〰️

2026

〰️

Timor 〰️ 2026 〰️

30 November - 10 December

Darwin → Timor-Leste

Marist Youth Ministry invites interested young adults to take part in the 2026 immersion to Timor-Leste. Participants will engage with the global Marist community fostering solidarity, family spirit, personal and spiritual growth. Participants will experience the culture and daily life of the Timorese people, along with a formative program of accompaniment in country. You will gain a firsthand insight into Marist life and mission in a place on the periphery.

Applications Close: 30 April 2026

Interviews to follow!

Apply Now!
View Itinerary!

Cost of the Experience

All participants are required to meet in Darwin on 30 November at 11am.

(NB: Domestic travel to and from Darwin is not included).

The cost of immersion includes: 

  1. One night’s accommodation in Darwin prior to departure to Dili

  2. All food in Darwin

  3. QANTAS flight from Darwin to Dili

  4. Return QANTAS airfare from Dili to Darwin

  5. Accommodation in Timor Leste 

  6. All travel in Timor Leste

  7. All food in Timor Leste (Only including, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

  8. Tours – Resistence Museum, Chega Exhibition, Santa Cruz cemetery

  9. Visit to Women’s Centre for Growth & Development, plus Timorese cooking class

  10. Visits and donations to Brothers Community, Caritas, Marist College Lauten and Katilosa, Centre for disabled children

  11. Contribution to the Marist ‘Buy A Tree’ Project

  12. Pilgrim booklet

  13. Pilgrim polo

Where You’ll Go!

Apply Now!

About Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is one of the least-developed countries in the world and is considered the poorest in Asia. During the 1999 post-referendum violence, as much as 70% of the national infrastructure was destroyed, including the destruction of 80% of schools and the burning of almost all books and materials. Almost 20% of primary teachers and 90% of secondary teachers returned to Indonesia. With 42% of the country’s population below the age of 14 and the majority of Timorese teachers poorly educated and untrained, the current school system faces enormous challenges. 

Marist Brothers Community  

Connect with Australian Marist Brothers and aspiring Timorese Marist brothers (scholastics, aspirants, and postulants) and the work they do in the local community.

Instituto Católico para Formação de Professores (ICFP)

Cultural exchange with young university students studying teaching at ICFP 

ICFP is a Marist administered Catholic Teacher’s College that offers an accredited Bachelor of Teaching and Bachelor of Education. It is the only tertiary institution outside of the capital city municipality, Dili. It is also one of only two providers of primary education teacher formation in the country. The educational infrastructure in Timor-Leste is still weak, but ICFP’s goal is to strengthen the Catholic School system and provide the country with fully qualified teachers. The college empowers its students to become leaders in the field of primary education and leaders within their own local community. Trained in critical thinking, pedagogy and child development, the students are readily offered employment upon graduation. 

Marist College Lauten

…

Katilosa, Centre for children with Disabilities run by Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) 

Klibur Aleizadu (KATILOSA) is a non-government organisation based in the small village of Darasula in Baucau District. Timor-Leste is a country with very few services available for those with a disability and KATILOSA is one of only two registered disability-focused organisations in all of Baucau District, the other being a special school. 

KATILOSA provides three services. 

  1. Community-Based Rehabilitation  

  2. Inclusive Education   

  3. Community Education 

This is the first program of its kind in the country, challenging the long-standing negative cultural views held by the local community about disability.   

FAQs

  • The immersion is open to interested young adults (18+ years who graduated from school no later than 2025) who want to experience Marist life and mission in a global context. 

  • Applications close on 30 April 2026. Interviews will commence early May 2026. 

  • The approximate cost is $3,200, there will be minimal personal costs.  

  • The cost covers: 

    1. One night’s accommodation in Darwin prior to departure to Dili 

    2. All lunch/dinner/breakfast/lunch in Darwin prior to departure to Dili 

    3. QANTAS flight from Darwin to Dili 

    4. Return QANTAS flight from Dili to Darwin  

    5. Accommodation in Timor Leste  

    6. All travel in Timor Leste 

    7. All food for 3 main meals whilst in Timor Leste 

    8. Tours – Resistance Museum, Chega Exhibition, Santa Cruz cemetery 

    9. Visit to Women’s Centre for Growth & Development, plus Timorese cooking class 

    10. Visits to Brothers Community, Caritas and Katilosa, Centre for disabled children, Colégio Marista, Lautém and ICFP 

    11. Contribution to Marist ‘Buy a Tree’ Project

    12. Donations to centres above 

    13. Pilgrim booklet 

    14. Pilgrim polo

    1. Domestic travel to and from Darwin to home port is not included.  

    2. Personal purchases such as gifts, souvenirs and snacks. 

    3. SIM Card for Mobile Device

    4. Passport

    5. Snacks between meals

    6. Extra bottled water

    7. Some personal First Aid Equipment (List will be provided when successful) 

    8. Gifts & Souvenirs

    *This list may vary (including personal items needed for travel)

  • The immersion focuses on solidarity, family spirit, personal and spiritual growth, and experiencing the culture and daily life of the Timorese people. 

  • Yes, you can visit any destination before the immersion as long as you are in Darwin at 11 am on Monday, 30 November to begin orientation, bonding with fellow pilgrims and formation.  

    We arrive back in Darwin, from Dili on the afternoon of Sunday,  10 December at 17:35. The immersion officially concludes here.

    You are welcome to stay in Darwin for longer, or travel to home port or other destinations from this time. 

Still Got Questions?

For more information contact Justin Golding at justin.golding@marists.org.au or Jenifer Miller at  jenifer.miller@marists.org.au