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On December 2-5, 2024, as many as 23 prospective members of the Le Cocq d’Armandville College Presidium participated in the LKI activity at the Abdi Kristus Sisters Monastery, Wanggar District, Nabire, Central Papua. The LKI, or Ignatian Leadership Training, aims to prepare prospective new Presidium members to become qualified leaders based on Ignatian values.   “ Being Men and Women for and with Others ” is the theme of LKI this time. Through this theme, prospective Presidium members are expected to be able to become leaders who care, are responsible, and are involved in the lives of school residents and the surrounding community. This life is not just for oneself alone but also to serve others, especially those less fortunate, marginalized, and neglected.   On December 2, 2024, at 07.30 WIT, the prospective Presidium members and their companions were escorted to Wanggar using a truck. The journey, which took about an hour, was accompanied by Mrs. Ester Yanti and Father Yakobus Toto Yulianto, SJ   Upon arrival in Wanggar, Fr. Engelbertus Viktor Daki, SJ led the LKI Opening Service. In his brief reflection, Fr. Egi invited the prospective Presidium members to follow the dynamics of LKI with an open and joyful heart.   Knowing Yourself The LKI participants received several interesting materials. On the first day, Mrs. Theresia Kegiye gave Self-Introduction material. The participants were invited to truly recognize themselves as individuals who are loved by God, have talents and abilities that are useful for many people and are willing to become leaders who truly want to serve.   Ms. Magda, one of the Sanata Dharma University students undergoing a Teaching Assistance program at Le Cocq College, also provided material on the Qualities of a Leader. Ms. Magda emphasized the importance of having several qualified personal qualities as a leader to inspire and drive the organization. Ms. Magda also invited the participants to reflect more deeply and learn what kind of leader they are and who inspires them.   In addition to being invited to get to know themselves and review the qualities of leaders, Ms. Mutiara Kausar, a Sanata Dharma student in the Teaching Assistance program, also provided material on Leadership Skills. Participants were invited to learn about a number of basic skills that a leader needs to have, in accordance with the Ignatian spirit, such as discretionary skills and acting based on a magical spirit.   Value-Based Leadership On the second day, Fr. Engelbertus Viktor Daki, SJ, invited the participants to learn to become leaders with integrity and walk with God. They were invited to see the actions of Jesus, the true Teacher, in serving and accompanying the disciples.   In his presentation, Fr. Egi explained that in leadership dynamics later, they will always be on a “battlefield” from time to time. The war will occur between the leadership values that they uphold and various temptations, conflicts, fragility, and self-weakness. They are invited to know themselves so that if temptations come later, they know what to do so that the values they uphold, namely honesty, humility, magic, and sincerity, are maintained.   Ultimately, they are invited to become leaders with the harmony of mind, heart, and action. This harmony is expected to grow them and help them become leaders who think, speak, and act based on noble values rather than self-tendencies, ego, etc.   Power Relations Leadership is always related to power. When appointed a leader, he has the power to move others. Father Rikhardus Sani Wibowo, SJ, as a speaker, invited the participants to observe the leader’s role and the guidelines that must be followed to truly become a quality leader. One is choosing the path of exemplary behavior and not using threats or gifts when leading. Awareness of the role, power, and guidelines that need to be observed is expected to prevent participants from abusing power.   Mrs. Ester Yanti presented material on “Building Teams and Collaboration.” In her presentation, Mrs. Ester invited the participants to work together. By becoming members of the Presidium, they all become leaders who work as a team. No one works alone. Each person has advantages that need to be shared to make this Presidium team work solidly. Every person and every division in the Presidium needs to be able to collaborate.   Facing the Giants Prospective Presidium members were invited to watch a film, Facing the Giants. This film teaches how to be a good leader and always carry the name of God in good times and bad. The atmosphere that night was so exciting. In fact, in an extraordinary part of the film, the Presidium members also felt the happiness felt by the characters in the movie.   Outdoor Dynamics On the third day, participants were invited to become leaders who care about the environment and are moved to help others. After waking up in the morning, starting from in front of the Monastery, participants were invited to pick up trash scattered on the sides of the highway to the Wanggar Chapel and Wanggar Market. The conditions around the cleaned points were initially dirty and unpleasant, but they became clean and pleasant after that.   After the environmental cleaning activity, the participants offered to help the mothers sell their goods in the market. They were initially shy, but after trying and daring, they finally got involved in selling the goods sold by the mothers in the market. The hope is that the participants are sensitive to environmental cleanliness and also have the courage to do good things.   In addition to the materials, the members of the Presidium are invited to routinely conduct examen conscientiae or inner examination. This examen aims to train our sensitivity to good spirits and evil spirits. With the examen, prospective members of the Presidium are expected to be able to know the urges of good spirits, always follow them, learn the urges of evil spirits, and always stay away from them. The examen is carried out during the day before lunch and night

Coinciding with National Heroes Day in November 2024, the DIY Student Pastoral Center (PPM DIY) held a series of events to give meaning to heroism that is relevant to young people today. The events consisted of the PPM DIY Open House on November 9 and the Youth Eucharist, which was continued with a talk show and art performance on November 10. The topics raised were about heroism exemplified by national figures (including national heroes who are Catholic) and its actualization for young people today. Heroism as a spirit is always relevant and can be actualized continuously.   For that reason, with the language style of young people, this activity takes the title AGAPE: Akrab aGAwe PEnak, which in the original language (Greek, “ἀγάπη”) refers to a form of selfless, sincere, and affectionate love. In this context, agape is often described as universal or unconditional love, which reflects an earnest desire for the good of others without expecting anything in return. Catholic students in Jogja are invited to dare to give themselves selfless, sincere, and full love to anyone as a form of heroism that aligns with Catholic teachings. The acronym for ” Agape,” namely ” keras agawe penak,” invites Catholic students to establish intimacy in their own way and walk together as fellow Catholic students. Generation Z children who are familiar with the digital world can also take heroic actions in this era. So, besides being ” penak ” ( fun ), it is also beneficial for many people.   The meeting moment between Catholic students of DIY was temporarily halted due to the pandemic some time ago. Therefore, this activity will unite Catholic students throughout Yogyakarta since the pandemic is over. It is hoped that with this activity, a network and brotherhood can be established between Catholic students spread across various campuses. In Yogyakarta Special Region, there are more than hundreds of Universities, Academies, and Colleges. It is hoped that with this activity, Catholic students can get to know each other, share stories, and strengthen each other in their life journey.   On the first day of the PPM DIY Open House event, students provided health check services for residents around PPM DIY. In addition, there were joint exercise activities, community service, blood donation, door prizes distribution, and lunch together. The involvement of students in the community is a simple form of heroism that they can do. Students need to recognize the community environment where they live every day so that the knowledge they learn in class does not stop at just thinking but is also actualized for the common good. For example, medical and health science students are involved in free health check services for the community. In addition, students also learn to network with all parties with good intentions, such as the Sego Mubeng group from the Kotabaru Parish.   On the second day, EKM was held in the Kolese de Britto chapel and continued with a talk show and art performance in the Kolese de Britto hall. The Eucharistic celebration was led by Father AR Yudono Suwondo, Pr. as the Episcopal Vicar (Vikep) of West Yogyakarta accompanied by Father Daryanto, SJ (Student Pastoral Center), Father Setyo Budi Sambodo, Pr (Student Priest of the Semarang Vicariate), and Father Hugo, SJ (Moderator of Kolese de Britto, host of the event). This is a greeting from the Catholic Church to young people, especially Catholic students in Jogja. Through this EKM, students also get space to experience the Eucharist in a youthful way, such as orchestral music accompaniment, accompanying dances, reflections presented with theater, and prayers in various regional languages.   Around 800 Catholic students from various universities attended the second day’s event. Not only from Jogja but also from Semarang and Surakarta. After the Eucharist, the event continued with a talk show filled by Father G. Subanar, SJ, and Walma Jelena. Father Banar shared the story of the heroism of Indonesian Catholics during the Japanese occupation through a recently published book, Kinro Hoshi, Kisah Umat Katolik di Dudukan Jepang (Kanisius, 2024). Meanwhile, from the perspective of young people, Walma Jelena, who popularized the mantilla on her social media account (@walmajelena; Your Mantilla Lady), shared her testimony of faith in the digital world.   After the talk show, several student groups filled the art stage. Among them were regional dances, theater, and music. The multiculturalism of Catholic students in DIY will color these art performances, considering that students come from various regions in Indonesia. Fr. Buset (Setyo Budi Sambodo) performed entertainingly with standup comedy. In addition, there was also the involvement of SMA Kolese de Britto students through musical performances. Not a few de Britto alumni studying in Jogja were actively involved in the activities of the Catholic Student Family. So, this is a form of ongoing assistance for young people to walk together to build a future full of hope.   Contributor: P Agustinus Daryanto, SJ

Recently, we have been presented with some data from the Central Bureau of Statistics regarding the decline in the number of young people getting married in Indonesia. This data is accompanied by various newspaper reports that depict the concerns of young people about getting married or having children. As a result, over the past ten years, there has also been a decline in the number of women giving birth, from 70.6% in 2012 to 66.4% in 2022 (down 4.2%).   Responding to this phenomenon, on Saturday, November 9, 2024, the scholastics at St. Ignatius College invited young people to discuss together in the Dialogue for Action (DIKSI) event entitled ” Family, Is It Still the Most Valuable Treasure? ” Fr. TB Pramudita, SJ, as the moderator of the discussion, opened with instigating data: many participants are of the view that having a family is scary because they have to face various challenges in family life (economic challenges, infidelity, divorce, and domestic violence).   This dialogue presented several speakers to understand this phenomenon more deeply: Father Yoseph Aris, MSF, Mr. Paulus Eko Ananto (Bantul Population and Civil Registry Office), and husband and wife Mr. Albert and Mrs. Erna Prajartoro. From the speakers, the participants learned that, on the one hand, the challenges of family life are real. On the other hand, joy is present not because of superficial pleasure but when the challenges are faced with responsibility, loyalty, and shared commitment as a path to holiness.   Civil Divorce: Church Concerns Mr. Eko started the discussion by presenting Disdukcapil’s analysis of divorce data in Bantul. From 2017 to 2024, 417 divorce cases have been recorded in Bantul. The most common factors causing divorce are economic (30%), disputes (17%), infidelity (14%), domestic violence (13%), and religion (8%).   Mr. Eko, as an employee of Disdukcapil, also felt concerned because of the total divorce cases in Bantul; 190 (45%) of them were carried out by couples whose marriages were carried out in the Catholic religion. “As a Catholic, at first I felt ‘sinful’ when issuing a civil divorce certificate because there is no divorce in the Catholic Church,” he said.   Continuing the concern about civil divorce, Father Aris emphasized no divorce in the Catholic Church. Divorce that occurs civilly is indeed a concern for the Church. However, those who are forced to have a civil divorce, “as long as they do not remarry or do not live in a concubine, may receive communion,” said Father Aris. In the Catholic Church, there is no divorce, and what is known is the annulment of marriage. However, the annulment of marriage in the Catholic Church is not a double standard because there is something that is not valid in Church law and is made to save souls.   Call to Holiness Instead of being trapped in the fear of divorce, Father Aris invites young people to understand marriage as a calling to holiness better so as not to see it as scary. Father Aris emphasized, “Marriage is a calling from God that requires a response from husband and wife freely, consciously, and responsibly.” As a calling from God, marriage aims for the good of husband and wife, openness to offspring, and children’s education. In preparing for marriage, young people must get to know the depth of their partner, build a shared commitment, and be honest in their relationships. Commitment and honesty in relationships must be built up to the point of agreement about offspring. Don’t be childfree or delay for too long just because of pragmatic reasons or blaming the economic situation.   Currently, the Archdiocese of Semarang is increasingly serious about assisting prospective married couples with the Catechesis for Family Life Preparation (KPHB) program, Discovery (a program to get to know your partner better), the Marriage Encounter community, Couple for Christ, and post-marriage assistance with family events/recollections and wedding anniversaries. These various programs are created to prepare further and accompany the journey of married couples. “Indeed, there is no special school to become a husband/father and wife/mother. However, the most important thing about school is life experience, which is to get to know each other and commit,” said Father Aris.   Core Values and Life History Mr. Albert and Mrs. Erna then shared their dynamic family life experiences. They started a new family with economic struggles from zero to slowly gaining prosperity for the family. Because of work, Mr. Albert had to work in Merauke and had a long-distance marriage for 20 years. During this time, many challenges in the work environment tested loyalty. “Loyalty is bitter when lived, but the fruit is sweet,” said Mr. Albert. Because of their commitment, Mr. Albert and Mrs. Erna tried to meet regularly even though the plane ticket price was not cheap. Another challenge arose when educating children. This family was blessed with three children. Their youngest child has special needs and, in the early stages of growth, had to undergo 10 operations. Challenges also arose when Mr. Albert’s career was brought down by parties who did not like him because he worked cleanly and was not corrupt. After going through various difficult situations, Mr. Albert and Mrs. Erna were grateful because there were always good people who provided solutions and were there for them. They were able to face difficult situations because of their loyalty to the values agreed upon together ( core values ).   Mrs. Erna said, “Couples must unite the values that will be achieved together to be prayed for and printed-installed as a reminder of the agreement.” Agreement occurs when couples accept and understand each other’s life history. Thus, neither party should give in or be forced to do so because core values are a mutual agreement. Some examples of core values are honesty, simplicity, responsibility, and hard work. Thanks to core values, Mr. Albert and Mrs. Erna can live their family lives with complete loyalty in various situations. Family life is indeed not free from challenges but full of many

Sometime after we published the book Walking with Ignatius, which contains a conversation between Father General Arturo Sosa, SJ, and journalist Dario Menor, we had the opportunity to meet Father General Arturo Sosa, SJ, in person on October 25, 2024, amid his busy agenda at the Synod of Bishops in Rome. This meeting was indeed a very precious moment. Together with Father Jose Cecilio Magadia, SJ, regional assistant for Asia Pacific, and Father Leo Agung Sardi, SJ, spiritual director at the Collegio Internazionale del Gesù, we enjoyed an intense conversation with Father General for no less than an hour at the Curia Generalizia, Borgo Santo Spirito 4, Rome.   The content of the conversation was truly impressive, affirming, and moving. Therefore, we would like to share it through this writing. Here are three important things that Father General conveyed in the conversation.   Joint Mission or Shared mission (la mission compartida) As explained in the book Walking with Ignatius, Father General explains amazingly the meaning of the Joint Mission. In our conversation, this refers to “the joint mission of Jesuits and laity.” This topic is also relevant to our concerns, such as lay people working in institutions of the Society of Jesus.   Father General explained that the meaning of “Joint Mission” is not merely sharing the mission of the Society of Jesus with all members of the institution or can be exemplified, for example, in the form of mission-sharing activities that are often carried out between work institutions. More than that, joint Mission means that Jesuits and laity together realize and provide themselves as instruments (tools) of God in carrying out His mission in the world, namely bringing the good news. This mission belongs to the Jesuits, the Church, and all of God’s people who carry out Jesus’ mission in the world.   Father General’s statement felt jarring for those who have often thought of themselves as professional workers in the Society of Jesus’ work institutions. “Simply contributing professional skills” in the dynamics of company management is not enough. It is more than that. All members of the Society’s work need to take part in the meaning of the work, the distinctive identity, and the source of inspiration of the Society of Jesus. By working in the Society of Jesus’ work institutions, everyone should not just be an outsider or apathetic but must become proactive to walk together as “companions in the mission,” becoming witnesses of salvation (companeros en la mission) in the world through daily work.   Collaboration (Jesuit-lay) The consequence of this awareness of the “Common Mission” is establishing collaboration between Jesuits and the laity around them. Collaboration is not just co-working but truly providing oneself to work with others. It is not enough to have many collaborators; what is more important is the existence of openness, quality, depth, and sincerity in the process of working together with others.   For the Jesuits, the presence of lay colleagues can be a kind of “vaccine” to prevent clericalism or feudalism. For the laity, the presence of the Jesuits is a kind of “compass” that shows direction and purpose. Both parties need to continue to struggle to be more open to differences in perspective from each other. Among the Jesuits themselves, there needs to be continued encouragement of the desire to struggle in sharing missionary missions with lay colleagues.   Walking With Young People For those of us struggling with socializing with young employees from generations Y and Z, one of the challenges that is not easy is introducing them to Ignatian Spirituality, which is the institution’s spirit. Faced with the orientation of most young employees who tend to be more interested in secular and professional matters, sometimes Ignatian Spirituality feels “not so interesting” in motivating their work. Responding to this, Father General emphasized that it is still necessary to consistently carry out the Ignatian formation process in any situation, especially very challenging ones. Ignatian Spirituality is a way to show the way to God. This way, it does not need to be forced on others, but it is necessary to continue to be offered and introduced to many people, including young people.   Father General gave an example that in all educational institutions of the Society of Jesus, students are introduced to the basics of the Spiritual Exercises from an early age, such as examen, reflection, and spiritual conversations. In the company context, this example confirms that we should continue introducing new employees to the basics of spiritual exercises from an early age. Father General’s statement affirms that we should pay attention to the details of the process and dynamics of Ignatian formation for employees from the first time they join.   This memorable meeting ended with dinner with members of the general curia. We are grateful that healthy food satisfies us physically, but the messages delivered by Father General satiate us spiritually. That night, we went home with deep consolation.   Contributors: Mg. Sulistyorini and Peter Satriyo Sinubyo – PT Kanisius

On Saturday, December 13, Father James Bharataputra, SJ, received the New Gamaliel award for his efforts in serving the people in Indonesia, especially by building the Maria Annai Velangkanni Prayer Garden in Medan.   As is widely known, this prayer garden illustrates the presence of all religions in Indonesia, helping and assisting each other. This prayer garden is a symbol of tolerance. Father James said that the purpose of building this prayer garden was to attract pilgrims from all walks of life. He does two things, namely helping pilgrims to meet God and reminding all pilgrims that they are children of one God, whatever their religious beliefs. This teaches an attitude of mutual respect and love as brothers and sisters because all humans are children of the same Father in Heaven. Father James wanted to realize the prayer of a psalmist, “How beautiful it is to live as brothers and sisters in the house of God on earth!”   The Asian Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies awarded Father James Bharataputra, SJ, as the “Today’s Gamaliel of Tamil Nadu.” The award ceremony was held at Vailankanni Basilica, India. Father James was surprised by the extraordinary appreciation from the Bishop of Tanjavur and Cardinal Bo of Myanmar.   What exactly is the meaning of this award? Gamaliel was a highly respected teacher or rabbi for his profound Torah knowledge and wisdom. His wisdom is evident in his advice to the Sanhedrin, where he advised not to punish the apostles because if their work came from God, it could not be hindered. Because of his knowledge, wisdom, influence, and essential role in education, Gamaliel is considered one of the leading and respected teachers in Jewish and Christian history. The committee of the Asian Center for Cross-Cultural Studies saw that what Father James did was the work of God. He held a catechesis of faith through visual images in the Maria Velangkani Prayer Park in Medan so that everyone, especially the people in Medan, could see God more concretely and visually.   Father James added that the construction of the prayer garden began with his dream to invite everyone to meet God. “I believe God tells me the details through my dreams. Sometimes, I wake up from my dreams and write down some of the details of my dreams so that I don’t forget. I don’t know how to describe this extraordinary spiritual experience. It’s like God is dictating His plan for the Prayer Garden in detail as I continue to build it.”   For him, the entire architectural design resulted from his dream when contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation in the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises. All are artistically represented through paintings and sculptures in the Indo-Saracenic style. This prayer garden combines the basic human needs depicted in the lower room. The prayer and worship space is on the middle floor. The section on divine mysteries or heaven is located above. Seven levels depict the seven levels of heaven or the seven sacraments. Father James Bharataputra has contributed to Medan’s religious-cultural diversity and tourism because this Holy Place attracts pilgrims from all religions. His life has been a blessing to many people.   Let us rejoice in the inspiration of Father James’ extraordinary dreams that have been appreciated by many people, especially Catholics in Tamil Nadu, India. Father Sindhunata also gave his appreciation in his autobiography. He wrote: “The grandeur and beauty of this holy place is a manifestation of the inculturation process between his homeland, Tamil Nadu, and the land of Sumatra. This holy place has become a meeting place for heaven and earth – where the divine and the human embrace each other – where God wants to meet His people, regardless of race, belief, and language.”   This extraordinary moment is a sign for Father James to return to his homeland. He is now ready to leave the Maria Velangkanni Prayer Garden, which develops the people’s faith in Indonesia, and is also ready to end his missionary period in Indonesia. He has been a missionary in Indonesia for 50 years and has made many contributions to people from various religions in Indonesia. Now, this prayer garden is managed by RD Gundo Franci Saragih. Hopefully, Father James’ dream of building the people’s faith in the land of Medan will continue to be preserved with RD Gundo.   Thank you, and congratulations, Father James, for this incredible work of God in Indonesia. Welcome back to the fresh air of Tamil Nadu.   Contributor: P Ignatius Windar Santoso, S.J.

On December 10, 2024, coinciding with World Human Rights Day, the Provincial of the Society of Jesus of the Indonesian Province, Fr Benedictus Hari Juliawan, SJ, inaugurated the establishment of PRAKSIS (Center for Research and Advocacy of the Society of Jesus). As a new work of the Indonesian Jesuits, the establishment of PRAKSIS embodies the Apostolic Plan of the Indonesian Province to establish a “center for studies and advocacy that will become the ‘spokesperson’ of the Society of Jesus in public discussions on social issues.”   The inauguration ceremony began with a Eucharistic celebration at the Chapel of St. Peter Canisius, Jakarta. Father Provincial led the celebration, accompanied by the Foundation Management and the PRAKSIS Board of Directors. In his homily, the Provincial Father stated that the establishment of PRAKSIS refers to Jesus’ call in the Sermon on the Mount to be a light. This call is realized by establishing a research and advocacy institution that can present Catholic ideas and perspectives in a joint effort to support the democratization process in Indonesia.   The event continued with the presentation of the results of PRAKSIS’s first research, “Seeking Democracy that Promotes the Common Good.” This research highlights the challenges of Indonesian democracy in the last decade (2014-2024), such as the narrowing of the space for citizen participation and the shrinking middle class. The PRAKSIS report then concludes with recommendations based on the Church’s Social Teaching, including protecting human dignity and civil liberties, empowering grassroots communities, and promoting just economic policies.   Bringing Mission to Life Through Research, Advocacy, and Education PRAKSIS is designed to be a knowledge center that combines the power of scientific analysis with the insight of the Catholic faith. Its three main pillars are: research, advocacy, and education. Through research, PRAKSIS produces innovative and implementable studies on social, political, and economic issues. Through advocacy, PRAKSIS voices policies that support the common good to stakeholders. Through education, PRAKSIS organizes seminars, courses, and workshops that introduce the Social Teaching of the Church and discuss the challenges of the times.   This initiative has received a warm welcome from various circles. In her keynote speech at PRAKSIS’s inauguration, Ms. Alissa Wahid, National Coordinator of the GUSDURian Network, emphasized the importance of institutions such as PRAKSIS in strengthening democracy.   2025 Program and Future Hopes The founding of PRAKSIS is a call for all those of goodwill to participate in advancing the common good. With the spirit of ” Fate Chiasso !” or “Make a sound that echoes!” as called by Pope Francis, PRAKSIS invites the Church, Catholics, and all parties of goodwill to advance the common good.   PRAKSIS has prepared various programs for 2025. The Research and Advocacy Division will conduct research with four main themes and will routinely hold the PRAKSIS Forum. Meanwhile, the Public Engagement Division will have seminars, courses, workshops, and retreats to instill an understanding of the Catholic faith among Catholics, especially the Social Teachings of the Church. The inaugural seminar from the Public Engagement Division is planned to be held in February 2025. The topic raised reflects the message and impact of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Visit to Indonesia in early September 2024.   The establishment of PRAKSIS is an effort by the Society of Jesus to collaborate in advancing the common good in Indonesia. Precisely because of that, PRAKSIS wants to collaborate with all parties. There is no common good without mutual involvement.   Contributor: P Heinrich Angga Indraswara, SJ

Reflection on the 58th Anniversary of Pingit Social Village On October 19-26, 2024, Pingit Social Village (PSP) held a series of activities to commemorate Pingit’s 58th anniversary. The theme this year was “Togetherness in Joy.” Pingit administrators and volunteers reflected on the joy they experienced while holding teaching and learning activities at PSP. The spirit of the theme was expressed in three main activities: (1) free health checks, (2) people’s competitions, and (3) a night of vigil.   Free Health Check Saturday (10/19/2024), volunteers collaborated with the Realino Primary Clinic to organize free health checks for the elderly and residents around Pingit. The health services provided include uric acid, blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure checks. The examination was continued with personal consultations by doctors at the Realino Primary Clinic. After the examination, the prescription obtained from the doctor can be exchanged for the medicines provided.   The residents’ enthusiasm for participating in this activity shows the high need for personal health. This event reminds the community that attention should be focused on the productive age and the elderly, who are often neglected. As reflected in the closing prayer of the event, “[…] serving them, the elderly around us, who are rarely noticed by society,” this event carries a message about the importance of paying attention to the welfare of the elderly as an essential part of society.     People’s Race Sunday (10/20/2024): In addition to free health checks, Pingit’s 58th anniversary was also enlivened by a folk competition for the residents’ children. Although the implementation was postponed due to rain, the enthusiasm of all those present did not fade. After the weather cleared, the volunteers immediately prepared for competitions based on age categories. Kindergarten children competed in eating crackers and colored straws. Younger elementary school children played straw relay and bottle nails. Older elementary school children played cardboard shake and newspaper relay in line.   When the weather cleared, the enthusiasm of the children and residents grew even more intense until the competition was completed smoothly. The activity ended with the excitement of playing water volleyball. The happiness radiated from the children and residents, which was a memorable memory for the volunteers. Not forgetting, the children and residents received snacks that the committee had prepared. Although tired, the volunteers were grateful because they could carry out their duties well to create a memorable experience.     Night of Vigil  Saturday (10/26/2024): The peak of the series of activities for Pingit’s 58th anniversary was celebrated with a night of vigil. We were very impressed with the enthusiasm of the volunteers, who gave each other time for one month to prepare the children’s performance. Practicing the performance with the children was a challenge we overcame well.   On the day itself, volunteers and residents of Pingit helped each other to prepare the stage and tent for the night of the vigil. This was a valuable experience where all parties cared about each other to help each other make the series of events for Pingit’s 58th anniversary a success. The joy culminated on Saturday, October 26, 2024, the night of the vigil.   Togetherness is one of the things we got during our activities in Pingit. After about a year of meeting the residents and children, we felt a sense of closeness and familiarity with them. At the beginning of our time as Pingit volunteers, we always saw the enthusiasm of the children we accompanied. After accompanying them for a long time, we learned various stories of Pingit children, from their family conditions to their struggles. In addition to meeting multiple children’s stories, we also met Pingit residents who were friendly and sensitive to being involved in activities in Pingit.   In addition to the children and residents of Pingit, we also feel comfortable with the Pingit administrators and volunteers. We often share stories and experiences that bring joy. We are very grateful that each volunteer also has the sensitivity to help each other. One of the fruits of that sensitivity is the success of the series of activities for Pingit’s 58th anniversary.   Contributor: Adelia Dwi Maharani, Alessandra Josephine Lie Saragih, Lidwina Paskarylia Shinta – Volunteer Pingit

The Eucharistic Thanksgiving Celebration of the 92nd Anniversary of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Girisonta Parish, themed “Maguyub Welas Asih,” took place solemnly and lively. Father Agustinus Sigit Widisana, S.J., as the Parish Priest, and Father Leonardus Dibyawiyata, SJ, who previously worked as a parish priest from 1973-1977, led the thanksgiving mass.   The Eucharist began at 08.00 WIB, beginning with the pramisa song, greetings from the committee, and a dance performance from the students of Santa Anna Kindergarten, Girisonta. Joy and happiness enveloped all the people present. Not to forget the joint choir of the extended family of SMPK Girisonta and the alumni, enlivening this Eucharistic celebration of gratitude.   The atmosphere of Sunday, November 10, 2024, truly lifted the spirit of the entire 4,873-person Girisonta community.     A piece History​ The birth of the Church in Girisonta cannot be separated from the establishment of the Girisonta Retreat and Novitiate House. The retreat house was built in 1930, with the laying of the first stone on October 3, 1930. This retreat house was then named Girisonta. Giri means mountain, and Sonta means Holy. Girisonta was intended as a place at the foot of a quiet mountain, suitable for meditation and purification.   In 1932, Girisonta became the SJ Community for the first time. Father H. Koch, SJ, was the rector at that time, Father G. Schmedding was the novice master, Father Th. Verhoeven was the retreat house director, Father J. Hellings was the minister scholasticorum, and Father J. Schouten was undergoing Tertiants. At that time, there were 7 junior brothers, 7 novice brothers, and 3 novice brothers; there were also 2 postulants interested in becoming brothers. Of them, Father Schmedding and Verhoeven lasted the longest until the Japanese era, when they were still in Girisonta.   The Birth of the Church in Girisonta At the time Girisonta was born, there were almost no Catholics around Karangjati; only a small group lived in Ungaran. In the book De Katholieke Missie, published in 1933, the number of Catholics in Ungaran and Girisonta was only 99. That number included 21 new baptisms. On Easter Day, 38 people received Communion.   Father G. Schmedding, S.J. initially began teaching catechesis to the college employees. The novices began to explore the surrounding villages so that, little by little, people began to know Father. The response from the people around Karangjati was still minimal, but those who lived in villages a little further from Girisonta responded better.   So, for the first time, in 1932, Father G. Schmedding, SJ, baptized and pioneered the baptism book in Girisonta as the beginning of the birth of the Church in Girisonta. The first baptism, recorded in the first book, occurred on February 22, 1932.     The Community of Compassion The parish anniversary celebration falls on the Feast of the Name of St. Stanislaus Kostka every November 13. Sunday, November 10, 2024, Girisonta Parish has been present in our homeland for precisely 92 years, treading a historical journey that was not easy during the colonial period and the War of Independence.   The development and progress of Girisonta Parish is always continuous. Now, the number of recorded souls is around 5000 people, spread across 13 regions, 46 neighborhoods, and 1 station, namely Santa Maria Assumpta Glodogan Station, which is still within the territorial area of Semarang Regency.   The Eucharistic celebration of the 92nd Anniversary took the theme “Maguyub Welas Asih,” which is a continuation of the previous theme on the 91st Anniversary, which took the theme “Maguyub Sanggup.” The word maguyub has a deep meaning, namely that all Catholics in the Girisonta Parish Seek to always be united (maguyub) based on a sense of love and affection for others (welas asih. Maguyub welas asih is a message for all Girisonta Parish congregations always to be compassionate and full of love in serving others for the common progress of the beloved Parish church.   Before the closing blessing, the Parish Priest cut the tumpeng given to the chairman of the Parish Anniversary Committee as a symbol of gratitude for the success of the Eucharist celebration and the accompanying activities in the series of anniversary celebrations.   The Eucharistic celebration continued with a congregational party that began by taking fruits and vegetables from the blessed mountain. The event continued with a meal of yellow rice prepared by each neighborhood. The congregational party was enlivened by various performances: a drum band from SDK Girisonta, a drum band from SMK Theresiana Bandungan, and a drum-blak offering from Region 3 Yulius, which is the Committee for the 92nd Anniversary of the Saint Stanislaus Girisonta Parish.   The excitement of this event was created thanks to the cooperation of the Committee, the Parish Council, and all parties involved. Hopefully, the Girisonta church will be more capable and compassionate, and the congregation will be more enthusiastic and actively involved in various forms of down-to-earth and welcoming service, following St. Stanislaus’s example.   Contributor: KOMSOS Girisonta