Eight deacons of the Indonesian Jesuit Province chose these words as the motto of their ordination to the priesthood on July 31, the feast of St Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. The phrase represented their common experience during their formation – an experience of God’s love opening their eyes to their weaknesses and the very same love burning in their hearts to keep following and serving God. It is also the experience of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, which they selected as the gospel for their ordination.
The ordinands Paul Prabowo, Rafael Mathando Hinganaday (Dodo), Fransiskus Kristino Mari Asisi (Tino), Benny Beatus Wetty, Agustinus Wahyu Dwi Anggoro, Hendricus Satya Wening Pambudi (Hendric), Bernadus Christian Triyudo Prastowo (Yudo) and Harry Setianto Sunaryo happily made their way to the altar of St Anthony of Padua Parish, Kotabaru, Yogyakarta. There was much concern about Deacon Hendric, who was in hospital the day before due to dengue fever, but, thanks to the care of his doctor and nurses, he was able to partake in the whole ceremony.
Prior to their ordination, Fr Yudo and Fr Harry were sent to the Philippines to study theology at Loyola School of Theology and lived in Arrupe International Residence. The rest of the group pursued their theology studies at Ignatius House of Study in Yogyakarta. All of them felt the burning desire to keep following Jesus after an eye opening experience. Hence, they resonated with Sieger Koder’s Emmaus painting, which for them depicts the light and shadows in their journey from formation to ordination.
In his homily, Most Rev Robertus Rubiyatmoko, Archbishop of Semarang, reminded them of the true identity of a priest: a man of the Church, a man of evangelisation and a man of prayer. The Archbishop challenged the newly ordained to remain and to confirm this identity as they grow in their priestly lives. It was a delight for the people to see the Archbishop, a professor of canon law, pose questions to the ordinands in a jovial manner, as if he were in front of his students during a comprehensive examination.
As is customary in the Indonesian Province, the Provincial, Fr Sunu Hardiyanta SJ, made the much anticipated announcement of the assignment of each of the newly ordained priests at the end of the Eucharist. Fr Wahyu will serve as school moderator of Canisius College High School in Jakarta. Fr Dodo will work in the finance department of the Politeknik ATMI Surakarta. Fr Tino has been assigned as associate parish priest of St Anthony Church in Surakarta. Fr Paul will join the staff of the Minor Seminary Mertoyudan. Fr Hendric who “miraculously” was able to follow the whole ceremony despite having dengue fever, has been asked to first complete his thesis and then join the formation house of the novitiate as Socius to the Novice Master. Likewsie, Fr Benny has been asked to complete his licentiate thesis before assuming the role of associate priest of St Mary the Queen, Block Q, Jakarta. Fr Yudo has been assigned as associate parish preist of Assumption of Mary Church, Cathedral of Jakarta. Fr Harry will go to Papua on the eastern part of Indonesia to join the teaching staff of Adi Luhur High School, Nabire.
Speaking on behalf of the new priests, Fr Harry shared what it means to live a joyful life. “It is not about a life always filled with laughter and smiles or a life with all the comfort and facilities”, he said. “A joyful life is a life rooted in the belief that God always accompanies us.”
Watch highlights of the ordination: