There are six specific qualities that priest candidates and scholastics must fulfil before their diaconate and priestly ordinations: personal integrity, spirituality, intellect, pastoral care, community life, and physical and mental health. All of these must be continuously strived for in order to be effective messengers of the Annunciation to the people we serve. This is a lifelong challenge for all of us, as God Himself has chosen us, not the other way around.

That was the important message delivered by Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmoko, the ordaining bishop of the diaconate ordination at the Chapel of St Paul Major Seminary, Yogyakarta, on Thursday, 25 January. Mgr Rubiyatmoko ordained 16 scholastics and priest candidates from various dioceses and congregations. Among them were four Jesuit scholastics of the Indonesian Province: Andreas Aryono Mantiri SJ, Antonius Bagas Prasetya Adi Nugraha SJ, Tiro Angelo Daenuwy SJ, and Vincentius Doni Erlangga Satriawan SJ. Participating as a concelebrant in the Eucharist was Fr Cyprianus Kuntoro Adi SJ, Rector of St Ignatius College (Kolsani), Yogyakarta.

The new deacons have been assigned to continue their current missions. Deacon Andre is finishing his master’s studies in management at Atma Jaya University Jakarta and is the second minister of scholastics at Unit Johar Baru of Kolese Hermanum in Jakarta. Deacon Doni is also completing his master’s studies in engineering at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. Meanwhile, Deacons Tiro and Bagas are pursuing their theology studies at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of Wedabhakti, Sanata Dharma University.

There was a small reception for the four Jesuit deacons along with their families at Kolsani after the Mass. Their prestly ordination is set for 31 July, the feast of St Ignatius Loyola.