The courtyard of the Bintang Laut Building of St. Joseph Gedangan Catholic Church was filled with people dressed in traditional clothing and unique costumes to participate in the Amazing Race. The event aimed to explore the history of the Church as part of preparations for the 150th anniversary of its consecration on December 12, 2025. Initially scheduled for September 2025, the event was postponed due to the socio-political situation. It was finally held on January 16, 2026. Despite rainy weather, the day of the event was cool and ideal for sports, which boosted enthusiasm among the congregation and the organizing committee.

Knowing the History
The cheers of 190 participants divided into 18 groups kicked off the Amazing Race. Each group followed a different route with stations offering excitement. The “code-breaking” station used Morse code to encourage people to understand that faith reaches all nations. The “puzzle-solving” station asked participants to assemble a puzzle featuring photos of Gedangan Church from the 1900s to illustrate the roles of various parties in establishing the church.

Historic Sites
The Amazing Race is a way for people to learn more about the history of Gedangan Catholic Church, with stop points that have significant historical value in the development of faith and the church. One of these stop points is the Protestant Church in Western Indonesia (GPIB) Immanuel or Blenduk Church, which was the initial location for the celebration of the Eucharist for Catholics in Semarang.

Taman Srigunting No. 5-6 was once a church and residence for priests, but is now a destination for contemporary art performance and exhibition. Father J. Lijnen built the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gedangan in a strategic location. Two other sites are the Oudetrap Theater, which functions as an art gallery and cultural heritage building, and Rumah Akar. Although not directly related to Gedangan Church, these places bear witness to the historical development of the Catholic faith in Gedangan and the role of missionaries.

Homeward Bound
After tirelessly exploring buildings and historical sites in Kota Lama (the old town), all participants and organizers gathered inside Gedangan Church. It turned out that, even though they had been the congregation members of Gedangan Church for a long time, not all of them were familiar with its history. The Amazing Race became a way for the congregation to get to know and feel the traces of the development and growth of the Catholic faith that began in the central area of Semarang’s Old Town. Isn’t it true that to get to know and become close to something, the congregation needs to explore the historical sites of their own church?

Community Festival
The Amazing Race series featured a cheerleading competition among groups. Participants showcased their cheers and movements, with Benedictus Banjarsari and Marta Mlayu Darat congregational units, mainly consisting of parents, delivering entertaining performances. The congregation generously provided prizes, and the event concluded with the announcement of the winners.

Dream Comes True
That afternoon, the parishioners of Gedangan returned home joyfully after participating in the fun walk and learning about history, which they had been looking forward to since 2025. It was a celebration and a reminder that God always has the best plan. Through the Amazing Race, the congregation became even more determined to love their church and its history. The history of Gedangan Catholic Church and Kota Lama of Semarang is intertwined, showing how the Catholic faith has developed. This moment is expected to encourage Gedangan parishioners to support one another, just as the pillars support the magnificent the Church of Gedangan.

Contributor: Sch. Engelbertus Viktor Daki, S.J.