Hi, I’m Lusia, though most of my friends call me Aisul. I am a member of the OMK (Catholic Youth Organization) of Gedangan Parish. I love traveling and history, especially when listening to stories about the past. Now, I want to share about Gedangan Church, the oldest Catholic church in Semarang. The OMK here has an exciting platform to get to know our church more deeply, called Jelajah Gedangan (exploring the Church of Gedangan). The purpose of this activity is to reintroduce the Church of Saint Joseph in Gedangan, particularly from a historical and faith point of view. The tour guides are also from us, the OMK Gedangan, where we gather, discuss, and uncover old stories about this church, and share them with those who are interested.
We started Jelajah Gedangan at the end of 2019 until early 2020, even though the Covid-19 pandemic had just begun. We took the initiative to replace the activity with virtual Jelajah Gedangan, which allowed us to reach people who wanted to know more about Gedangan. During that time, we shared stories about Gedangan’s history, the figures who had been part of Gedangan, and the ornaments typically seen during mass. The themes we discussed became increasingly diverse over time.
In 2025, Gedangan Church will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the consecration of its church building. A series of events will be held throughout the year, one of which is the Mini Talk Show Jelajah Gedangan, which took place last June. At this event, participants, who were usually taken on a tour of Gedangan, were able to sit down and listen to stories from several speakers related to Gedangan Church.
Three speakers participated in the talk show. First, Fr. Vincentius Suryatma Suryawiyata, S.J., shared fascinating stories about the figures who shaped Gedangan Church and emphasized the importance of the missionary spirit that originated here. In addition to Fr. Suryatma, there was also Fr. Ignatius Windar Santoso, S.J., who showed documentation of previous baptism records. From these records, we learned that Semarang was an important place in the history of Catholicism during the Dutch East Indies period, and Gedangan played a role as the first gateway for Catholic missions in Java.
Another narrative was shared by Mas Yogi, a historical observer. He shared surprising facts about Gedangan Church archives and his experience guiding Dutch people seeking to learn about their ancestors’ history. It turned out that one of their ancestors was a famous artist from the past. They also brought photos to compare the church as it was then and as it is now.
From the stories of the interviewees, I realized how important archives such as baptism records are in bridging generations. These records are not only historical evidence but also help people find their families and connect their life stories. The Jelajah Gedangan Mini Talk Show was a true meaningful experience, with each speaker bringing their own unique stories.
I am grateful to have been a tour guide at Jelajah Gedangan and to have participated in this 150th anniversary. We will continue to share and learn about history while reviving stories that are nearly forgotten. In November this year, we will organize the second Jelajah Gedangan Mini Talk Show with new stories and perspectives. Don’t forget to follow Instagram @gerejagedangan and @gedanganmuda for the latest updates!
See you around in Gedangan.
Contributor: Lusia Pamungkas – Gedangan Muda
