The Journey of the Ignatian Companions of Bongsari

The quote “Finding God in all things” is a key teaching of St. Ignatius de Loyola, embraced by the Ignatian Companions at St. Theresia Bongsari Parish, Semarang. Sixteen out of 32 young participants aged 17-21 completed the Ignatian Youth 2025 program from May to December 2025. They learned about Ignatian spirituality and self-awareness through the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey, along with meditation and silent prayer exercises.

Many participants struggled with meditational prayer at first. Distractions included room temperature and noise, while some experienced discomfort during prayer. Mentors explained that such feelings indicated that participants were becoming aware of their mental state during prayer. Meditational prayer helped them recognize their situations and emotional states.

Participants also engaged in personal reflections led by Father Agustinus Sarwanto, S. J., focusing on common fears such as fear of missing out (FOMO), fear of others’ opinions, and the idea of only living once (YOLO). Father Sarwanto encouraged them to consider their internal and external fears, revealing that many participants feared the future.

Following several meetings and their first retreat at the KSED Retreat House, participants noticed personal changes. They learned to confront their fears and felt more comfortable trusting God with outcomes after doing their best.

The culmination of their journey was the Ignatian Retreat at Panti Semedi Retreat House in Klaten from December 12-14, 2025. During this retreat, they practiced what they had learned, especially silent prayer, for three days in a period of silence with minimal communication.

The dedication of mentors and the Salmeron team led to increased participation in church activities and the Catholic Youth Organization (OMK), creating hope for ongoing positive impacts for future generations.

Contributor: Anastasia Adristri – Parish of St. Theresia Bongsari, Semarang