The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (PWPN) in Indonesia welcomed a significant visitor in the last week of February, PWPN International Director Fr Cristóbal Fones SJ. His visit aimed to understand the local context, see the apostolate in action, and identify both challenges and opportunities for growth. Fr Fones, a Chilean Jesuit who officially assumed his role as International Director on 1 January, also visited Malaysia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste during his Asia-Pacific tour.

In Jakarta, he visited the cathedral church, the Terowongan Silaturahim (Tunnel of Friendship), which was inaugurated by Pope Francis last year, and the Istiqlal Mosque. He also concelebrated Mass at the cathedral. The following day, he participated in a public seminar on The Way of the Heart with Fr Sindhunata SJ. The event brought together various Ignatian spirituality communities such as Magis, Christian Life Community (CLC), First Spiritual Exercises (FSE), Schooled by the Spirit (SBS), and Aminigo. Fr Fones also introduced PWPN to students at Canisius College.

In Yogyakarta, he met with Fr Antonius Sumarwan SJ, the National Coordinator of PWPN Indonesia. There, he visited the Pusat Musik Liturgi (Center for Liturgical Music), the office of Yayasan Basis, which publishes the official PWPN magazine Utusan (The Messenger), and Omah Petroek, a reflection centre on The Way of the Heart. PWPN Indonesia also organised a Mass and a song parade at St Antonius Padua Kotabaru Church.

The journey continued to Central Java, where Fr Fones visited Mertoyudan Minor Seminary and attended the first Mass of Fr Petrik Yoga Pr, an active member of PWPN Indonesia. In Wonosobo, he was treated to a special dance performance by students from SLB/B Dena Upakara, accompanied by the Sisters of PMY. The visit concluded with a trip to the Borobudur Temple.

Throughout his visit, Fr Fones shared the essence of PWPN, its spiritual foundation, and its mission. Here are some key highlights:

Friendship with Jesus

At the heart of PWPN’s mission is a personal friendship with Jesus. Rooted in the spirituality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, PWPN unites over 22 million Catholics across more than 90 countries. This spirituality is introduced through The Way of the Heart, a formation module consisting of nine steps of reflection that help participants understand the Hearts of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This module serves as a guide to cultivating a heart capable of embracing a mission of compassion for the world.

Since 2023, PWPN Indonesia has adapted The Way of the Heart as an annual retreat module. In celebration of the Jubilee of the Sacred Heart, PWPN Indonesia also used this module as the theme for its prayer booklet and as a year-long reflection resource. Monthly online spiritual exercises and conversations are held on the second Monday of each month.

Fr Fones not only speaks about friendship with Jesus but lives it deeply. During discussions with students at Kolese Kanisius and Mertoyudan Minor Seminary, he shared that Jesus is his closest friend. He revealed that as a teenager, he often wrote letters to Jesus, and even now, Jesus remains his best friend.

The Apostolate of Prayer

One of PWPN’s primary missions is to pray for and spread the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions. The International PWPN team promotes this through The Pope Video and the Click to Pray app, which provides morning, midday, and evening prayers to support the Pope’s intentions.

PWPN Indonesia actively supports these initiatives by collaborating with the National Office for Pontifical Missions (BN-KKI) to translate The Pope Video subtitles and infographics into Indonesian. Materials from Click to Pray are also regularly translated and shared on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

Singing is considered “praying twice”. The song parade, “Prayer Songs for the World,” held after a Mass at St Antonius Padua Kotabaru Church helped the congregation better understand PWPN’s spirituality and mission. The event featured the “Daily Offering Prayer” sung in both Indonesian and English, composed by Damian Alma.

Fr Fones also emphasised the role of music in evangelisation, seeing “music as a service of faith and the promotion of justice”. Though he has released 12 albums, he humbly stated, “I am not a musician or a singer; I am simply a priest.” For him, music is a form of apostolate and service.

Formation of the youth

PWPN is deeply committed to the formation and accompaniment of young people. Its youth community, the Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM), is coordinated in Indonesia by Fr John Nugroho SJ. Inspired by the pedagogy of the Emmaus disciples, EYM focuses on the Gospel, the Eucharist, and Mission, inviting young people aged 5 to 25 to live like Jesus in a heart-to-heart friendship with Him.

At Canisius College and Mertoyudan Minor Seminary, the students enthusiastically engaged with Fr Fones, asking questions about faith, vocation, PWPN’s mission, and how he integrates music into his ministry.

The International Director also had the opportunity to meet students from SLB/B Dena Upakara in Wonosobo, a school for children with hearing impairments. The students joyfully performed three dances, leaving a profound impression on him. These children deserve our attention and care, he remarked, highlighting the importance of an inclusive ministry.

Fr Fones’ visit brought fresh energy to PWPN Indonesia. It reminded us to move beyond promoting prayer and to become a community that lives out a mission of compassion for the world. Ultimately, PWPN Indonesia is a movement of the heart. Encounters like these serve as pathways for hearts to share, inspire, and unite in prayer.