Schools have taken a hard hit during the pandemic. Private Catholic schools serving families from middle to low-income groups are experiencing the impact as operating funds have dried up following an economic contraction.
To respond to the situation, Indonesian Catholics have started an initiative to raise funds through a virtual sporting event to be held throughout December. The initiative, dubbed the Caritas Christmas Cross Challenge 2020, is a running and bicycling event spearheaded and organised by the Indonesian Jesuit Alumni Association in cooperation with Caritas Indonesia and the Commission for Education of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia.
From a grassroots initiative of a dozen Jesuit and Catholic high-school alumni, the campaign has snowballed quickly, receiving support from 22 dioceses, especially after the strong endorsement of Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, Archbishop of Jakarta and Chair of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, and Mgr A Sudarso SCJ, Archbishop of Palembang and Chair of Caritas Indonesia Foundation.
An overwhelming 3,090 people forming 133 teams registered on the opening day on 1 December. The launch was held virtually and live streamed on several YouTube channels. Of the total number of participants, more than 1,000 are lay alumni of Catholic schools, nearly 2,000 are clergy and lay mission partners belonging to different dioceses, and more than 100 Jesuits in Indonesia and abroad, not to mention the 18 Bishops, including Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, and other religious congregations that are participating as well.
“We are blessed to have received over IDR 2.5 Billion (USD 177,000) as of the launch,” said Christiano H Wishaka, Chair of the Organising Committee. “We never imagined that so many would share in our solidarity, giving the little they have.”
Besides local participants, the event has also garnered the support of people of other nationalities, such as Filipinos, South Koreans, Indians, Myanmarese, Thai, French, Kenyans, and Cambodians. In fact, several Jesuit priests and scholastics from Arrupe International Residence in Manila are participating, including our President in the Jesuit Conference, Fr Tony Moreno SJ. There are non-Catholics participants, too.
“By organising this 31-day event virtually, we are no longer bound by time and location,” said Glenn Sebastian, Race Management Committee Coordinator. He noted that the event is being held in at least 10 different cities outside of Indonesia, namely Rome, Manila, Madrid, Yangon, Siam Reap, London, Paris, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Abu Dhabi.
Aktivin microsite and Strava GPS are the main tracking apps to be used by the participants. Every IDR 50,000 donation is equivalent to a walking or running distance of 1 kilometre or a cycling distance of 3 kilometres for the participants.
Apart from the primary objective of raising funds to keep schools up and running, the organisers also aim to promote a healthy lifestyle through regular physical exercise. Fr A Widyarsono SJ, Race Management Coordinator for clergy and religious participants, is happy to support the event. “Maintaining a healthier body will help our mind and soul face the challenges caused by the pandemic,” he shared, “with more optimism and positivity.”