World Refugee Day, celebrated on June 20, aims to raise awareness about the conditions of refugees and appreciate their resilience in the face of conflict and persecution. On June 21, 2025, a bazaar themed “A month of stories and solidarity” was held at M-Bloc Space, Jakarta, as part of this commemoration. The event involved many organizations, including UNHCR, Refuture, SUAKA, and JRS Indonesia. As a staff member of JRS Indonesia, I attended this event for the first time and was very excited. My task was to receive guests and record visitors, as well as explain the activities related to World Refugee Day. I worked together with Diana from SUAKA and Rahma from CWS to encourage people to learn more about refugees. The event involved many parties. They supported multimedia, sound systems, MC, and other equipment. Many refugees arrived early to set up booths selling specialty foods and crafts from their home countries, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, and Rohingya Myanmar. This activity helped to increase the understanding of refugees and their situation among people in Jakarta.   As a social worker, I understand that refugees, both as individuals or groups, are forced to flee their home country due to conflict or persecution. Until now, Indonesia has not ratified the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, which makes it difficult for them to work and make ends meet. They rely heavily on the assistance of international organizations.   World Refugee Day provides hope and an opportunity to get to know refugees from better perspectives. I am inspired by Pope Francis’ message that calls us to care for marginalized people and support them. I hope that this event can raise public awareness to care more about refugees who face an uncertain future.   Contributor: Adi Priyanto – JRS Indonesia

Surakarta Palace and de Britto High School: A few days ago, on May 17, 2025, my classmates and I visited the Palace of Surakarta as part of our P5 (Project for Strengthening Pancasila Students’ Profile). Our goal was to learn about the Surakarta Palace from the palace’s point of view. The journey took about an hour, and the roads were pleasant to travel on. Although I didn’t sit by the window, this allowed me to socialize with my friends, making the trip enjoyable. After some time observing the surroundings, we arrived at the Palace of Surakarta. We entered through the main gate, a large entrance for vehicles. The palace has seven unique sections, and we had just passed through the first gate. Each gate has its philosophy, starting with the first gate called Nggladhak, symbolizing a person’s birth into the world. It features two statues of Gupala, representing acceptance of one’s fate. This gate is also used for animal sacrifices during certain ceremonies. Moving deeper into the palace, we encountered two pairs of banyan trees. Here, the philosophy represents a man’s authority and a woman’s grace, symbolizing the existence of two genders in the world. Further along, we arrived at Kori Wijil, a place signifying the journey to adulthood, indicating that one should know their purpose and position in life. Across from Kori Wijil, we passed Kori Mangu, where a large mirror was displayed for self-reflection. It serves to assess whether we are ready in terms of appearance, attitude, and heart to enter the deeper areas of the palace. Next, we passed Braja Nala, which means Inner Weapons, suggesting that one should sharpen the spirit to become closer to the Creator. This area has two buildings: Marchu Kunda (where rule breakers are punished) and Kedhaton (for promotions of loyal servants). Even though Kedhaton is a place for honours, we were welcomed to rest there. We proceeded to Kori Kemandhungan, which prompted more introspection about our readiness to enter the palace. After Kori Kemandhungan, we reached a place named Sri Manganti, marked by a large blue gate. If someone wishes to meet the king, they must wait at this point until a royal messenger calls them. This gate symbolizes paradise, meaning that after living through various experiences, we ultimately return to our father’s (God’s) house.   While there are many more places in the palace I could describe, our visit included these significant locations. This experience allowed me to appreciate the rich cultural values embedded within the palace, which interestingly align with the Ignatian-Jesuit spirituality of Kolese de Britto High School. The blue colour of the palace buildings represents divinity, akin to the blue sky signifying greatness. Surakarta Palace acknowledges God and seeks guidance in life, similar to de Britto’s spirit of Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam, living for the greater glory of God.   This suggests that both de Britto and Surakarta Palace share a common spirituality regarding hope in God, despite using different languages. Another interesting spiritual aspect is the two large mirrors in the palace. These mirrors prompt us to reflect on whether we are ready to enter the palace. The mirrored moments of self-reflection are akin to the Examen, which encourages us to evaluate our actions and opportunities for improvement on daily basis. Reflection is crucial for recognizing what needs to change, enhancing our commitment to personal growth. We should plan activities, but realize that without execution, there cannot be results or meaningful outcomes. Therefore, interpretation and deep understanding are vital to inspire action on our plans. Like the Examen, which is advised to be practiced twice a day, this indicates a shared spirituality between the Palace and de Britto, focusing on meaningful self-improvement through thorough reflection. This illustrates that achieving a common goal can be accomplished through various paths. The different expressions of spirituality in Kolese de Britto High School and Surakarta Palace both lead to the same ultimate purpose. This was the essence of our P5 experience that day and the foundation of this reflection piece. This perspective extends beyond the discussed spirituality to our views on various matters, particularly religion and belief systems. Recognizing that different beliefs do not necessarily imply negativity is essential. Numerous religions are teaching the importance of faith in God, doing good, and avoiding evil. Although differing belief systems exist, we should refrain from judging others’ faith, as everyone’s relationship with God is personal. Similarly, regarding our approach to learning and understanding nature, we might encounter various challenges. However, every approach serves the singular goal of development. There are many ways to learn, whether through reading, listening to teachers, or practicing problem-solving. If the objective is to enhance learning and understanding, the outcomes will align with those aims.   Contributor: Dionisius Adven Pramana – Siswa SMA Kolese de Britto

WUJA PRE-CONGRESS PREPARATIONS: Jakarta, May 4, 2026 – The preparatory committee of the World Union Jesuit Alumni (WUJA) Congress held another coordination meeting to strengthen strategic steps ahead of the pre-congress implementation. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Elman and attended by the Steering Committee (SC) and Organizing Committee (OC). This meeting emphasized that the WUJA pre-congress activities are not just an introductory agenda, but an important space to filter ideas, build a collective identity of Jesuit alumni, and design real collaborations across regions and generations.   Four Stages of Pre-Congress During the meeting, it was agreed that the pre-congress would be divided into four main stages: Mapping Ideas and Figures The first stage aims to narrow down the main topics and attract competent speakers from the alumni community. This forum is a space to explore ideas that will be brought to the main congress. Expected outcome: strategic discussion points. Drafting an Identity Manifesto The focus of the second phase is on fundamental questions: Who are we as Jesuit alumni? It is hoped that a manifesto of shared identity will emerge as the basis for a sustainable alumni movement and engagement. Designing a Governance Framework The third stage touches on the implementation aspects: how to form a working structure, roles, and governance that involves various stakeholders, from Jesuit schools, alumni, to supporting organizations. The final result is a collaborative manual. Real Collaboration Model The fourth stage became a moment of concretization of ideas through the design of a collaboration model between alumni and institutions. This is a tangible form of the spirit of partners in mission. The focus is on collaborative actions that can be widely adopted and sustainable. Target Time and Communication Strategy George, chair of the SC, emphasized that although the initial estimate was quite tight, there is currently time until the end of the first quarter of 2026 to complete the entire pre-congress series. This gives room for deepening the material and wider engagement. Meanwhile, in terms of communication, it is proposed to develop narratives of alumni figures from various communities as internal publication content. This is intended to strengthen the sense of belonging and active involvement of alumni communities around the world. The Role of Schools and Alumni In the discussion, there was also a critical reflection on the importance of introducing the spirit of Jesuit alumni from school days, not after graduation. Jesuit education needs to nurture relationships with its alumni early and continuously. “Alumni are not only products of the school but also partners in mission. So, the relationship must be designed from the beginning,” said Adhi Anondo in the reflection session. Global Collaboration and Strategic Plan One of the highlights of the discussion was the idea to develop a strategic plan for the next four years post-congress. This plan reflects the continuity of alumni commitment in responding to various local and global issues through a contextual and adaptive Jesuit spirit. Thus, the WUJA pre-congress is not only a momentum of reflection, but also the beginning of a more structured, collaborative, and impactful Jesuit alumni movement.   Contributor: Markus Budiraharjo – IASM/Ikatan Alumni Seminari Mertoyudan

The Jesuit brothers are proud and happy to see the ongoing development of Kursus Pertanian Taman Tani (KPTT – an ecologically friendly training in agriculture) in Salatiga. They are amazed that KPTT continues to thrive, especially since many of them have either worked or studied there. Positive trends at KPTT can be observed in its financial independence, increasing number of course participants, expanding services, and its role as an ecological study center. This year, the IDO Jesuit brothers continued their program from the previous year, which includes retreats and family visits. In June 2025, KPTT and Bro. Dieng’s family were chosen for a visit, allowing the brothers to learn about KPTT’s current status. KPTT has transformed and can now support itself mainly through practices of sustainable and integrated farming. It is not a tourist destination but a training institution that sustains itself from agriculture and animal husbandry, which allows them to confidently teach these farming models. A key aspect of sustainable and integrated farming is mutual service. Agriculture and its products are part of a process of serving each other within the natural cycle. For instance, at KPTT, care for cattle involves feeding, watering, and maintaining cleanliness, which enables the cows to produce milk and manure. This manure is processed into biogas, which serves as food for bacteria and fungi decomposing the manure into fertilizer. This cycle illustrates how interdependence in nature leads to sustainability, ultimately benefiting humans the most.     For KPTT, agricultural and animal husbandry courses are ways to cultivate ecological individuals. They offer a spirituality of ecological humanity, promoting harmony between humans, God, others, and nature based on principles from Laudato Si and Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP). KPTT encourages each person to recognize their connections with God, others, and nature, and to develop ecological characteristics through thought, action, habit formation, and service to God. Since 2021, KPTT has increased its services with various programs such as courses, internships, live-ins, field trips, and outreach activities. They believe that if only 5% of attendees are genuinely interested in ecology, that would be a success to celebrate. During the retreat, the brothers were encouraged to reflect on fundamental questions about becoming ecological individuals, such as whether they have embraced ecological spirituality deeply, what specific forms of love for the environment they express, and what suggestions they would offer to increase others’ interest in ecology. The family visit of Bro. Dieng in Ngawi-East Java started with a joint prayer and sharing among the brothers about their current missions. They discussed the joys and challenges they face, strengthening their call to serve together despite being in different places. Twelve brothers attended this year’s retreat and family visit, which included a mass commemorating the feast of Corpus Christi and honoring the deceased younger brother of Bro. Dieng. The retreat concluded with a visit to Brother Dieng’s family, where they introduced themselves and shared their responsibilities. The brothers recognize that families are essential to their vocation, as families initially nurture future Jesuit brothers. They prayed for families to continue to offer their sons to Jesuit life.   Contributor: Bro. Antonius Dieng Karnedi, S.J.

From June 19-21, 2025, the Indonesian Province of the Society of Jesus (Provindo) held an event for local superiors. This meeting was new, as past meetings often included work directors. There are 16 communities in Provindo with 16 local superiors, but two could not attend due to other commitments. The main theme was Personal and Apostolic Care, with three speakers: Provincial, Socius, and Mr. R. Y. Kristian Hardianto. Mr Hardianto shared his experiences leading a company and caring for employee well-being. The Provincial encouraged superiors to discuss their efforts in supporting community members and their experiences while the Socius presented the current guidelines for local superiors issued by the Roman Curia.   The meeting included a jeep tour of Mount Lawu, visiting Jumog Waterfall and Sukuh Temple. The superiors enjoyed the meeting, hoping it would inspire them in their roles leading apostolic communities.   Contributor: Indonesian Province Communicator Team

Nine novices pronounced their First Vows in the Society of Jesus on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 10 AM at the Chapel of La Storta of St. Stanislaus Novitiate in Girisonta. Those nine novices were: Sch. Aloysius Gonzaga Evan Adhi Laksana, S.J. from St. Theresia Parish, Bongsari Sch. Albert Hosea Santoso. S.J. from St. Yusuf Parish, Gedangan Sch. Christoforus Iuliano Mesaroga, S.J. from St. Augustine, Karawaci Sch. Ignatius Damar Adi Wicaksana, S.J. from St. Augustine, Karawaci Sch. Archie Setyo, S.J from the Holy Rosary Randusari Parish, Semarang Cathedral Sch. Leonard Valentino Ngandiri, S.J. from St. Mary Assumption Parish, Jakarta Cathedral Sch. Leonardo Amaris Liaupati, S.J. from Tyas Dalem Gusti Yesus Parish, Macanan, Yogyakarta Sch. Valentinus Religio Perangin-angin, S.J. from St. Padre Pio Parish, Medan Sch. Yohanes Ragil Sumantri, S.J. from the Parish of St. Ignatius Ketandan, Klaten Provincial Fr. Benedictus Hari Juliawan, S. J. received the first vows of novices during a Mass attended by families, Jesuits, and guests. In his homily, he emphasized that the novitiate is a time for personal growth before God. He reminded the novices that their first vow begins a new journey guided by God, with various challenges ahead. At the end of the mass, Sch. Leon shared a reflection on behalf of his friends. They aim to share God’s love in different ways, following the teachings of Ignatius Loyola. By obeying Jesus’ command and working together, they seek to be a united body that brings blessings to those around them. Furthermore, the nine novices will continue their formation as scholastics studying philosophy at Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta. Congratulations on your formation, may you be more united, integrated, and fruitful in Christ.   Contributor: Margareta Revita – Indonesian Province Communicator Team