The Society of Jesus in Indonesia marked 50 years as a province with a Eucharistic celebration on 11 September in St Joseph’s Church in Gedangan. Since attendance restrictions limited the number of people who could be present in the church, the Mass was livestreamed, making it possible for Jesuits in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Kalimantan, Semarang, and Papua to still participate in their province’s celebration.
Indonesian Provincial, Fr Benedictus Hari Juliawan SJ, presided over the Mass with the General Vicar of Semarang Archdiocese, Fr Edy Purwanto, Parish Priest of Gedangan, Fr Benedictus Cahyo Christanto SJ, and the Priest of Banjardowo Station, Fr Thomas Ari Wibowo, concelebrating, along with the past provincials of the Indonesian Province, among others, Fr Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja SJ, Fr Petrus Sunu Hardiyanta SJ, Fr Agustinus Priyono Marwan SJ, Fr Paulus Wiryono Priyotamtama SJ, Fr Carolus Putranta SJ, Fr Josephus Darminta SJ, and Fr Riyo Mursanto SJ, who concelebrated via Zoom from Manila.
The Mass was made more meaningful with the collaboration of partners in mission through the Eucharistic songs, prayers of the faithful read in different Indonesian dialects, and liturgical offerings via video shown during the Mass. Besides the melodious strains of songs from the joint choirs of the parishes of Semarang and Jakarta Archdioceses, the performance of students from Le Cocq College in Nabire, Kanisius College in Jakarta, de Britto College, Mikael College, Loyola College and PIKA Vocational School in Semarang, as well as the Laetitia Disability Choir heightened the beauty expressive of prayer.
Hundreds of people followed the Mass online (facilitated with sign language) in the Indonesian Jesuits’ YouTube channel, and in the channels of Jesuit parishes in Jakarta and Semarang. All expressed gratitude for the grace of the 50th anniversary of the Society of Jesus in Indonesia as an independent province. Many were grateful for the work of the Society of Jesus in education, social work, and parish service. Prayers and hopes were raised that the Jesuits would become more fruitful in their mission, remain deeply rooted in Indonesian society, and nurture more vocations in the service of the church.
Prior to the culmination of the Eucharistic celebration, several Jesuits who had witnessed and participated in the transition of the Society in Indonesia from the Java Region to the Indonesian Province shared their memories and reflections. One of them was Fr Wiryono who expressed his gratitude for the magnanimity and unpretentious manner by which the missionaries prepared and handed over the leadership of the province to the local Jesuits. Dutch Missionary Fr Jan Bentvelzen was grateful for having experienced the Indonesian Church, which he said, wisely celebrates the faith of the people, rather than be caught up in debates between progressives and conservatives within the Church.
The Indonesian version of Fr General Arturo Sosa’s book, Walking with Ignatius, was also launched during the event. In a separate occasion, Indonesian Provincial Fr Juliawan granted an interview with Rosiana Silalahi, in which he shared on the challenges faced by the Jesuits in Indonesia.
Contributed by the Indonesian Province Communications Team