The Youth Eucharist (EKM) held by the Jesuit Scholasticate of Johar Baru at World Social Communications Week
“Restless World,” perhaps this phrase best represents the world of today’s youth. The relentless onslaught of information from social media has shaped human life endlessly. Even though they aren’t physically working, young people’s minds are constantly being eroded hour by hour by consuming endless content. Amidst this noise, the Jesuit Scholasticate of the Johar Baru Unit offers an oasis of hope to escape the snares of cyberspace.
On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the Youth Eucharist served as an oasis of hope for around 120 young people. Held during World Social Communications Week, the event tackled the impact of social media under the theme “Hope in a Restless World.” This initiative directly put into action the Jesuits’ first Universal Apostolic Preference: guiding people to God through spiritual exercises and discernment.
The diverse crowd represented numerous youth communities, including the South and West units of Student Pastoral of the Archdiocese of Jakarta (PMKAJ), Catholic Students of Indonesia, John Paul II Study Group, Sant’Egidio, Magis Indonesia, FMM Sisters and candidates, and youth from Mangga Besar, Theresia, Jakarta Cathedral, Tangerang, Kramat, and Matraman parishes.
Father Ferdinandus Effendi Kusuma Sunur, S.J., led the opening Mass. In his homily, he addressed how people often use social media as a false escape from life’s anxieties. He noted that scrolling through highly filtered, “perfect” online lives strips young people of the courage to be themselves, leaving a generation feeling exhausted and hopeless. To counter this, he urged the youth to anchor themselves in the Word of God for genuine strength. Adding to the day’s message of hope, a choir from the Tangerang Parish disability group delivered an exceptionally beautiful and moving musical service.
Following the Mass, the message of hope continued with an insightful talk show featuring Cecilia Gandes (Social Media Manager at Kompas Daily) and Henry Manampiring (author of the popular book Filosofi Teras – Terrace Philosophy), moderated by Sch. Feliks Erasmus Arga, S.J. Gandes opened about maintaining her own digital well-being while managing high-traffic corporate accounts. She stressed the need for mindfulness online, advising youth to be highly intentional with their words and to verify information before posting. Manampiring then brought a practical Stoic angle to the conversation, sharing how ancient philosophy can help users avoid knee-jerk overreactions to volatile online trends.
To put these ideas into practice, participants broke into small groups for a deep-dive reflection. Facilitated by Jesuit scholastics using a structured three-round spiritual conversation method, the sessions quickly grew lively. Many were so engrossed in sharing that they lost track of time. For participants, this peer-to-peer connection was the highlight of the day, offering fresh perspectives and solidarity. Sister Agnes, FMM, noted how eye-opening it was to understand social media dynamics outside the convent and learn how to practice digital self-control. Meanwhile, Estevania, a youth from Jakarta Archdiocese Student Association of the Southern Unit, shared that the session taught her to be more self-aware of what she posts and how she reacts to others online.
The event transitioned into a lively fellowship over a vibrant spread of dishes from local UMKM (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). Participants enjoyed a diverse menu of food and drinks, including fried fish balls, chicken rice, coffee, and tea. To our great surprise, Father Ignatius Windar Santoso, S.J., the minister of Kolese Hermanum Apostolic Community, also joined the festivities. Over at the food stalls, several Jesuit scholastics even pitched in to serve chili oil noodles, which quickly became the day’s top seller despite its intense spice! Supporting these UMKM was intentional, aimed at bringing tangible hope and economic support to local vendors.
The day wrapped up with a short quiz, a cleanup session, and a book giveaway courtesy of publisher Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia. Remarkably, even though the formal cleanup was called off and everyone was dismissed, many participants stayed behind to pitch in anyway—a beautiful testament to the lingering spirit of community and hope. For the Jesuit scholastics of Johar Baru, this Youth Eucharist provided a vital space to reflect on the shared hopes of the younger generation. They proved that external discomforts, such as the sweltering heat in the room, couldn’t dampen their spirits. Moving forward, they strive to carry the event’s core values into their daily lives: becoming more self-aware, less reactive, and more discerning.
