DILI, 06 June 2026 (TATOLI) — The Government of Timor-Leste has expressed profound sadness over the death of Reverend Father Agostinho da Costa, a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Baucau, who passed away on Wednesday, June 3, at the Eduardo Ximenes Regional Hospital in Baucau.
The government conveyed its condolences to the Diocese of Baucau, the priest’s relatives, friends, and the country’s Catholic faithful, praising Father Agostinho for his years of dedicated service to the Church and the communities under his pastoral care.
In its message, the government recognized his contribution to the spiritual life of the nation and said his passing represents a significant loss for the Catholic community in Timor-Leste.
The body of the late Father Agostinho da Costa will be laid to rest today at the cemetery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Baucau.
Before the funeral ceremony, the Diocese of Baucau held a one-day visitation and viewing at the diocesan center, where Catholic faithful from across Baucau gathered to pay their final respects and offer condolences to the late priest’s family.
Father Agostinho da Costa, who was ordained on August 22, 1971, served the Catholic Church for more than 55 years, earning recognition as one of Timor-Leste’s longest-serving priests. He died after suffering heart-related complications, with age also contributing to his declining health.
TATOLI
