Catholics in Belu district, East Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia are getting a new 108-square-meter chapel and housing through a joint project between the local Catholic parish, district officials, and provincial government. The chapel is being built on land donated by a parishioner near the Lourdes Shrine, which has become a retreat site. It is expected to be completed in November. The project also includes several homes that are 75% finished for local Catholics who previously lacked adequate housing. A village leader expressed gratitude that they will be able to hold mass and prayer meetings in the new chapel.

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2. Church, state join forces on building project near shrine that is retreat site. Belu district and East Nusa Tenggara provincial government officials have begun work on a joint building project with St. Michael’s Parish in Biudukfoho to provide a new chapel and housing for Catholics in Weain village.

3. Construction of a 108-square-meter chapel began earlier this month on land near the Lourdes Shrine donated by a local parishioner and is expected to finish in November. The shrine has in recent years become a retreat site for local Catholics.

4. Father EdmundusSako, parish priest at St. Michael’s, praised the cooperation between Church and government officials.

5. “The local Church is always willing to develop networks and to serve people. Local governments also contribute much, and we should thank God for this real contribution,” he said of the building project, to which many local Catholics have contributed their time as laborers.

6. Father Sako added that the project has also seen construction of several homes for Catholics in the area.

7. “The construction work on these houses has reached 75 percent completion.” The latest project follows a similar joint effort last year, in which Church and state officials oversaw the construction of 100 homes.

8. “These houses were for local Catholics who did not have adequate housing,” Father Sako said. OktovianusSeran, a Weain village leader, expressed gratitude for the project. “We will be able to hold Holy Mass and prayer meetings in the chapel,” he said.

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