Motael Church

A church was first built at the present location around the year 1800, on land gifted by the liurai of "Mota-a in".

[5] In 1975, in the turmoil of the withdrawal of the Portuguese from Timor, some Fretilin members decided to go occupy the church, perceiving it as an icon of colonialism.

While the Indonesian security forces ran after them, pastor Alberto Ricardo da Silva offered them protection in the church.

At night, the Indonesians stormed the church and shot activist Sebastião Gomes, who then bled to death.

On 12 November 1991, after the memorial service for Gomes, a demonstration started in front of the church and led to the Santa Cruz massacre, in which at least 271 people were killed by Indonesian security forces.