Seroja, November 20, 2025 – The international research team 2025, ISFIT-UNWIRA, held an international seminar with the theme “Building Bridges of Dialogue: In Illo Uno Unum (In That One Unity)” at the Indonesia-Timor-Leste (RI-RDTL) border region.
The seminar’s main objective was to meet with and engage the local communities through the lens of sensus communis (common sense) in the border area.
The seminar featured presentations from two key speakers: Fr. Mateus Afonso and Fr. Octovianus Yudha Pramana.
Fr. Mateus discussed the origin of humanity from the perspective of mythology, referencing scholars Mircea Eliade and Louis Bethé. His key points included:
Mythology and Tradition: Tradition and the realities around us do not originate from us.
Ethnographic Research: His research is ethnographic, focusing on the journey of ancestors, the origin of productive plants, and narratives centered around traditional houses, which point to social and cultural organization.
Community Focus: This perspective highlights the residents in areas such as Atapupu and Mota’ain, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT).
Fr. Octovianus focused on the border region as a complex area where different elements converge:
Area of Unity: The border is a territory where people unite in spirituality.
Complex Meeting: It represents a complex meeting point of culture, faith, and history.
In Illo Uno Unum: This phrase signifies “unity in diversity,” emphasizing difference and fraternity.
Shared Identity: Identity is found in every human being through God (Maromak).
Social Dialogue: Shared consciousness born through cross-border involvement becomes the capital for social dialogue, which he defines as a meeting between different
The seminar also featured the presentation of the ISFIT-UNWIRA research results on “Building Bridges of Dialogue: In Illo Uno Unum RI-RDTL” through the common sense (sensus communis) of the border communities.
The international seminar was attended by local authorities of Atapupu, as well as students from ISFIT and UNWIRA.