The Parish of St Ignatius of Loyola in Semplak, Bogor, has received a precious gift from the Indonesian Jesuits—a fragment of St Ignatius’ robe. The relic now resides in the parish church, nestled within the vicinity of the Atang Sendjaja Air Force Base.
“With the acceptance of this relic, we hope that the Parish of St Ignatius of Loyola will be further enriched with the spirit of Ignatius,” said Indonesian Provincial Fr Benny Juliawan SJ during the handover ceremony. “[It] is not only a symbol but also a reminder of the call to live a holy life, to serve with boundless love, and to embody the spirit of magis—giving one’s best to God and others.”
St Ignatius parish is relatively young, having been erected in 2015, but the Catholic community in the area had begun to organise as early as 1964. A significant milestone came in 1977 when the Air Force Base commander made an ecumenical gesture, providing shared facilities for both Catholic and Protestant congregations. The Catholic portion became St Peter’s Chapel, while the Protestant section was designated as Sola Gratia Church.
Construction of the current Catholic church began in 2005 and was completed a year later. It was blessed by Mgr Michael Cosmas Angkur OFM and inaugurated by the commander of the Atang Sendjaja Air Force Base, Air Commodore Ignatius Basuki. His baptismal name inspired the parish’s dedication to St Ignatius. Before its elevation to parish status, St Ignatius Parish was under the care of the Bogor Cathedral Parish.
The relic’s installation coincided with several celebrations on 25 January, the feast of St Paul’s conversion. The parish marked the blessing of their new St Paul Pastoral Center, built to accommodate a growing congregation that includes both military and civilian families living outside the Air Force Base complex. The day also happened to be the 61st birthday of parish priest Fr Antonius Dwi Haryanto (Fr Anton), who has served the community since 2017.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur OFM of Bogor, joined by Bishop Christophorus Tri Harsono of Purwokerto, Fr Kol (Sus) Yoseph Maria Marcelinus Bintoro, Fr Benny Juliawan SJ, and the parish’s first pastor, Fr Ridwan Amo.
Fr Anton thanked everyone who attended from the Bogor Diocese, the Air Force Base, and the faithful who have contributed to the development of the parish. “All this joy happens because of God’s extraordinary grace and love,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to Fr Juliawan and Fr Windar, and the couple Antonius Imam Toni and Retno, who played a key role in obtaining the relic as a gift from the Indonesian Jesuit Province.
The relic now holds a place of honour on the church’s altar, serving as a tangible connection to the parish’s namesake soldier-turned-saint. [Ignatia Marina/Indonesian Jesuits]