KANISIUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF TLOGOSARI KULON HOLDS BREAK-FASTING:
This year is special as Muslims and Catholics conduct the fasting moment together. For Muslims, the month of Ramadan is a holy month to do fasting and commemorate the first revelation given to the Prophet Muhammad. Meanwhile, for Catholics, fasting during Lent is a form of repentance, regret for sins, and emulating the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The theme of 2025 APP (Solidarity Action) of the Archdiocese of Semarang is Fellowship in Prayer, Repentance, and Hope. We hope that everyone will experience both physical and social repentance during the fasting and abstinence period. This expectation is in line with the Pastoral Letter as stated on the Archdiocese of Semarang Basic Directions of 2021-2025 and the Directions for the Implementation of Abiding in Christ and Bearing Fruit: Be More Catholic and More Apostolic in the Midst of Changes in the Society. This hope of the Church is what activates our brains. What can we do in the educational community of Tlogosari Kulon Elementary School to interpret repentance during the Lent, which coincides with the month of Ramadan? We finally agreed to hold an activity with community residents in Tlogosari Kulon Village where our school is situated. This activity was held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in the hall of Tlogosari Kulon Elementary School and it became a step to maintain brotherhood between religious communities. We raised the theme: Gumregah lan Jumangkah mBangun Paseduluran (rising and stepping to build strong brotherhood bond) and to live the spirit of men and women for and with others.
Teachers and students collaborated to welcome and serve the guests enthusiastically. The students helped the teachers provide dishes for guests who would break their fast with fresh drinks and snacks. This event was held thanks to the willingness of the donors and support from the Societal Commission and the Committee of Solidarity Actions of the Vicariate of Semarang.
In this occasion, we invited Gus Muhammad Abdul Qodir, Lc., M.A., as a speaker. In addition, there was special performances by Rebana Cinta Damai (peace percussions), Sufi dance, and other performances by students of Kanisius Schools of Tlogosari Kulon.
“Maintaining brotherhood between religious communities is important because it reflects a form of social piety amid Indonesian society. We hope that Ramadan will catalyze improvement. Do not be oppressive and egoistic,” said Gus Qodir.
Of the 350 people who were invited, around 187 were present at this event. This is an impressive achievement for a first-time event. All the guests expressed their appreciation and hope that this activity can positively impact the relationship of diverse backgrounds in the community. We hope this activity will be a good step as a Christian school in maintaining harmony in the predominant Islamic community.
Kanisius schools are unique in their education, namely, as they use the Reflective Pedagogy Paradigm in their learning activities. The culture of finding the depth of an event through reflection is evident from the results of the teachers’ evaluation on Saturday, March 22, 2025, and the writings of several students who attended the event. Our event was good and went smoothly. We need to be more proactive and offer friendly greetings to the people around us.
One of the teachers introduced the concept of Gumregah lan Jumangkah Mbangun Paseduluran to the invitees. Several students also wrote a little reflection on this event. “I am proud to be part of Kanisius Elementary School of Tlogosari Kulon, which held an interfaith event. The occasion is a new experience for me because I can learn about Islam, know Sufi dance, and understand more about interfaith relationship,” said Sharbel. “When I hand the snacks, I felt pleased because the residents accepted and enjoyed both the snacks and the event. I am happy to be able to make them happy,” said Nio. “This is the first event to me and I was a bit embarrassed to greet the guests. Yet, over time, I started to get used to it. I greeted the performers and they were cool. When I distributed the snacks, I saw the residents enjoying it. I was happy, and this activity was an unforgettable experience,” said Chilla.
Contributor: Khatarina Ika Wardhani, S.Psi.- Headmaster of Kanisius Grade School Tlogosari Kulon
