Canisius Day and the Early Sparks of Xavier College

On Monday, April 27, 2026, Canisius College in Jakarta celebrated Canisius Day, a feast dedicated to honoring the school’s patron, Saint Peter Canisius. The milestone was marked by a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Jesuit Provincial, Father Benedictus Hari Juliawan, S.J. Concelebrating the Mass were Father L.E. Bambang Winandoko, S.J., Father Alexander Koko Siswijayanto, S.J., Father Bagus Laksana, S.J., and several other Jesuit fathers. In the homily, Canisian students were challenged to cultivate the profound inner freedom needed to make authentic life decisions. Mirroring the courageous examples of St. Peter Canisius and St. Francis Xavier, the young men were inspired to live purposeful lives aligned deeply with God’s will.

The celebration also served as the backdrop for a historic milestone: the unveiling of the logo for Xavier College, the upcoming Jesuit institution in Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan. The logo, crafted by designer James Widyabudhi Prakarsa, centers around a shield divided into four quadrants by a central cross. This design element symbolizes that the college’s core pillars of education, culture, and service are anchored in Christ. The accompanying blue color palette was chosen to reflect the institution’s commitment to integrity.

• Top Left (IHS & Sunlight). The IHS monogram is placed in the first quadrant as the foundation of Jesuit Identity, affirming that God is the true light and the source of all intellectual wisdom.
• Top Right (Enggang Bird & Ornamental Background). The presence of the hornbill symbolizes spiritual strength, loyalty, and nobility. This visual embodies the spirit of Magis, a proactive drive for students to always soar higher and achieve excellence.
• Bottom Left (River of Life). The philosophy of the ever-flowing river represents the value of men and women for others (selfless service). In the gold variant, a touch of red is added to reflect courage and Indonesian national identity, and to cultivate individuals who serve others with a spirit of love for their homeland.
• Bottom Right (Missionary Ship). Featuring the silhouette of a classic sailing ship, it symbolizes the great missionary journey of St. Francis Xavier across the oceans to the Indonesian archipelago. This ship represents a global vision, resilience in navigating the waves of the future, and the value of Cura Personalis, a missionary spirit to bring the light of education and compassion wherever students eventually land.

Xaverius College is a new Jesuit initiative, managed by the Budi Siswa Foundation, which also oversees Canisius College Jakarta. This college aims to enhance education in Indonesia by developing leaders with integrity, excellence, and faith, particularly in Borneo. The groundbreaking ceremony for Xaverius College is scheduled for June 21, 2026, with operations expected to start in the 2027/2028 academic year. It will be a coeducational institution for both boys and girls and will include a dormitory.

Canisius College recently unveiled its logo and hosted an exhibition titled “Mother Mary, Pray for Us,” featuring reliefs of the Virgin Mary created by alumnus Mr. F. Widayanto. The exhibition ran from April 27 to May 10 and included a procession, dancing, and a concluding song. The artworks were blessed, and 20% of sales proceeds will support the college’s centennial activities.

Canisius Day marks the enthronement of the first-class relic of Saint Peter Canisius, the school’s patron. This ceremony took place in the Peter Canisius Chapel, encouraging the school community to emulate Saint Peter Canisius’s strong faith, dedication to the Church, and lifelong service.

The certificate reads as follows:
The Postulator General of the Society of Jesus, responsible for the affairs of the Servants of God, the Venerable, the Blessed, and the Saints of the same Society, hereby gives valid witness to all who read this letter, that we have taken a sacred relic, namely a small portion of the bone of Saint Peter Canisius, Priest of the Society of Jesus and Doctor of the Church, taken from an authentic reliquary. We have reverently placed this sacred relic in a round, pure metal container, tightly sealed with clear crystal, tied with red silk thread, and sealed with our official seal. As a sign of the truth and authenticity of all this, we issue this letter of witness, which we have signed and sealed with our own seal.
Rome, October 30, 2025

During the opening Mass of the Canisius Day celebration, Father Benedictus Hari Juliawan, S. J., blessed a relief that shows the lives of St. Ignatius, St. Peter Canisius, and the original companions of the Society of Jesus. This relief, created by Anton Sananta Studio, is in the lobby of the Ignatius building. Canisius Day also included a farewell for students involved in the Compassion Week 2026 program, which featured activities like a live-in in Kalimantan, Scout events for seventh graders, live-ins for eighth and eleventh graders, and a jamboree for tenth graders.

On May 2, 2026, Canisius College hosted a talk show on Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The speakers included Father Bagus Laksana S. J., the Rector of Sanata Dharma University, and Mr. F. Widayanto, a renowned ceramic sculptor and alumnus. The event was moderated by Arto Biantoro, a local brand activist. This talk show was part of an exhibition called “Our Lady, Pray for Us,” celebrating the 100th anniversary of Canisius College.

Two main points captivated the audience during the discussion. Firstly, F. Widayanto’s works encourage people to “draw closer” to the Virgin Mary, not just as a holy figure, but as a relatable mother living everyday life.

Father Bagus was especially interested in the Holy Trip sculpture, which shows the Virgin Mary’s family journeying on a water buffalo. This reminded him of his childhood experiences, highlighted the buffalo’s traits, and connected the artwork to Indonesian culture, making the Holy Family’s story more relevant to society.

The second main point is that devotion to the Virgin Mary should help people grow closer to Jesus. The celebration of the Immaculate Conception shows that Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of the Redeemer, but she is not greater than Jesus. Father Bagus illustrated this idea with the statue Suci Ning Suci, which shows Jesus kissing Mary on the forehead. He believes that all devotion to Mary should lead people to deepen their faith in Jesus.

Additionally, the talk show featured discussions on the portrayal of Mary’s expression in art, the inspiration behind F. Widayanto’s works, and the significance of devotion to Mary in the faithful’s everyday life.

Contributor: Makarius Giri Tri Pamungkas – Public Relation of Canisius College