by Mathias Hariyadi

From October 20 to 26 the first edition of the Indonesian Youth Day (IYD 2012) was held in the diocese of Sanggau. The young people revived the soul of a "multicultural, multiethnic and multilingual" nation. They intend to be promoters of "peace and justice", starting from a common origin of being both Indonesian and Catholics.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Ecounters, reflections and prayers, to revive the motto "100% Catholic, 100% Indonesian." In this spirit, thousands of young people celebrated the first Indonesian Youth Day (IYD 2012), which was held last October 20 to 26 in the diocese of Sanggau, West Kalimantan province, the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, one of the most remote and secluded of the archipelago. The event saw the participation of 1,914 faithful - parishioners and priests - representing 35 dioceses around the country. The motto chosen for this first event - and already used for the XXVI World Youth Day in Madrid - is "Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith" (Col 2:7), and is taken from a passage from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians.

Fr. Yohanes Dwi Harsanto Pr., head and soul of the first edition of IYD, points out that young people could understand "how to make concrete our Christian faith" in the daily life of a nation that is "multicultural, multiethnic and multilingual." Executive secretary of the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI), Fr. Yohanes recalls the different languages ​​spoken by the young people who participated, but at the same time, the feeling of "unity" as members of a single country.

Although characterized by different cultural identities, language, habits and customs, they were able to get together under the auspices of the spirit and the "Church in Indonesia," said the priest, who recalls one of the guiding principles of the day: "to be more faithful and feel at the same time more Indonesian". This double meaning draws some inspiration from one of the most illustrious figures of Catholicism in the country, Msgr. Albertus Soegijapranata SJ, former Archbishop of Semarang, and the first native bishop of the nation's history. His motto, often remembered and revived in these days by the youth, was "100% Catholic and 100% Indonesian."

Among other riches experienced by young people, continues Fr. Yohanes, the ability to share experiences of faith and moments of communion, in particular thanks to the hospitality of Catholic families in the area who willingly hosted the young people. A union that has been able to overcome differences in culture and language, based on common element of belonging to the Catholic Church.
In a statement issued at the end of the week, the young Indonesian Catholics wanted to reaffirm their commitment to the maintenance of the spirit that animated the days of encounter and prayer.

Describing themselves as promoters of  "peace and justice", they aim to become "agents of change" to "improve the situation in the country." "We are grateful to the Lord - they conclude - for the great blessing he has given us being young Indonesian Catholics." To relive the highlights and leave a living witness of the event, they also opened a website dedicated to the IYD 2012: www.indonesianyouthday.net.

The day dedicated by the young Indonesian Church is a local version of the international appointment launched by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and celebrated for the first time in Rome in March of the following year. The next round of the World Youth Day is scheduled for the end of July 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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