The Society of Jesus in Indonesia celebrated its first ordination since the pandemic. Four Jesuits received the grace of ordination to the diaconate along with five other candidates from the Semarang Archdiocese, the Congregatio Missionariorum a Sacra Familia (MSF), and the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles (MSA) under the hands of the Bishop of the Archdiocese of Semarang, Most Rev Robertus Rubiyanto.
The four Jesuits who were ordained deacons were Hugo Bayu Hadibowo SJ from Jakarta; Alfonsus Ardi Jatmik SJ and Aluisius Dian Permana SJ both from Semarang; and Martinus Juprianto Bulu Toding SJ from Banjarmasin. The ceremony was held on 26 October at St Paul Seminary Chapel, Kentungan – Yogyakarta, and live streamed on the Semarang Archdiocese’s YouTube channel.
Bishop Rubiyanto was delighted with the theme chosen for the ordination, from Isaiah 6:8: “Here I am, send me.” In his homily, he said: “I am pleased and proud that our nine deacons have chosen a motto that touches directly on the heart of a deacon’s mission. The Javanese word for deacon, ‘kongkon’, means to be ordered. This is exactly what our prospective deacons are aware of, believe, and understand. Ready to be messengers and ready to become servants. This should be our spirit as a deacon.”
Drawing on the theme, the Bishop conveyed four points. First, the willingness and free will that arise from within the deacons to serve God and humankind. Every deacon has free will; there is no coercion or threat. Indeed, this sense of freedom is the initial capital to experience the joy of accepting a mission, said Bishop Rubiyanto.
Second, not being picky about the mission. The expression “please send me” is representative of the attitude of detachment that a deacon must have. He ought to be “ready to go”, said the Bishop.
Third, “Here I am, send me” is an expression of the willingness to strive with all of one’s might for the glory of God for the benefit of humankind. This is what characterises the duties of a deacon.
Finally, the belief that God, who calls and sends, will equip and complete with various gifts the deacons in their ministry. Bishop Rubiyanto pointed out that in the Gospels when Jesus sent his disciples to spread the Good News, he breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Likewise, the deacons with their ordination are gifted with the Holy Spirit to enable them to grasp God’s will and carry out the mission that has been entrusted to them.
The ordination, which normally would have been a big celebration, was held with only a few people present. Deacon Ardi Jatmiko said that if Covid-19 had not happened, he would have invited 10 of his family and friends, but given the present situation, only four of his family members could attend. Even so, he was consoled by the advances in communication technology, which allowed his extended family to still witness his ordination on live stream. “That’s where technology can unite us,” he said. “Family and friends who could not come were able attend the Mass online.”
After the ordination ceremony, the new deacons had a simple celebration at St Ignatius College with community members, families, and relatives.
Septian Marhenanto SJ is a second year Regent working full-time in the Indonesian Province’s communication apostolate.