Photo by Robert Ballecer SJ
On Wednesday, 29 July, during the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, five Indonesian deacons of the Society of Jesus were ordained to the priesthood during the Eucharistic Celebration at St Anthony of Padua Church, Kotabaru, Yogyakarta. The newly ordained priests are:
- Andreas Agung Nugroho SJ
- Amadea P. Putra Mahardika SJ
- Frederick Ray Popo SJ
- Klaus Heinrich Raditio SJ
- Gregorius Agung Satriyo Wibisono SJ
This year’s ordination was particularly significant because of the presence of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Arturo Sosa SJ, who is making an official visit to Indonesia from 28 July to 3 August.
The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Most Rev Petrus Boddeng Timang and concelebrated by the Provincial of the Indonesian Province, Fr Albertus Bagus Laksana SJ; the Rector of Ignatius College, Fr Cyprianus Kuntoro Adi SJ; and the Superior General, Fr Sosa.
Centred on the theme Misericordiam Volo (“I Desire Mercy”), the celebration invited the newly ordained priests to live out their priestly vocation as a concrete expression of God’s mercy for the world. At the beginning of his homily, Bishop Petrus Boddeng Timang admitted that he felt nervous. One reason, he explained, was the profound depth of reflection contained in the ordination theme as presented in the liturgical guidebook. According to him, the theme “Msericordiam Volo” can only be truly understood through a deep spiritual experience.
Photo by Robert Ballecer SJ
The Bishop also reflected on the present condition of the world, marked by numerous crises that have led many people to experience what he described as the “globalisation of powerlessness,” a widespread sense of helplessness. Yet, amid this reality, the First Reading offers a message of hope. True joy is born from an encounter with God and is fulfilled by sharing His love with the world, said the Bishop, quoting the First Reading: “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me” (Phil 4:9).
Building on this passage, he encouraged the newly ordained priests to shape their lives according to the example of Christ. He observed that today’s world is dominated by a culture of FOMO (fear of missing out), the anxiety of being left behind. In contrast, he said, the deacons are called to embrace JOMO (joy of missing out), the joy of courageously choosing God’s will over the demands of the world. Such joy is born from encountering Christ through listening to Him, seeing Him, and following Him.
During the Rite of Priestly Ordination, each deacon made a promise of obedience to the bishop or to his religious superior. They then received the laying on of hands and the Prayer of Ordination as signs of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This was followed by the vesting with the stole and chasuble, symbols of their priestly ministry. Through ordination, they received the authority to celebrate the Eucharist, proclaim the Gospel, and serve the People of God through the sacraments of the Church.
The joyful celebration concluded with a reception attended by the newly ordained priests’ families, members of the faithful, and invited guests.
In his closing remarks, Fr Laksana emphasised that the mission entrusted to the newly ordained priests embodies the Society of Jesus’ commitment to integrating intellectual depth, accompanying young people, and fostering an apostolic spirit in parish ministry. The new priests are expected to offer a ministry rooted in profound reflection while remaining close to the pastoral needs of the faithful, both in parish work and in other apostolic ministries.
Their initial assignments reflect this vision: one priest has been sent for advanced studies in philosophy, another for advanced studies in theology, one has been assigned to serve at a minor seminary, and two have been appointed as associate pastors in parish ministry.
