Catholic entrepreneurs donate motorboat to the Diocese of Agats, Papua (VIDEO)
The Maria Stella Maris made its maiden voyage last week, a four-hour trip. A group of entrepreneurs from Jakarta gifted the motorboat. For Bishop Murwito, “It is a wonderful act of love”.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Thanks to the donations of an entrepreneur from the Indonesian capital, Hidayat Tjokrodjojo, and other Catholic businessmen, the Diocese of Agats (Papua province) has a state-of-the-art motorboat at its disposal, the Maria Bintang Laut, i.e., Maria Stella Maris.
The diocese is located in one of the remotest and most dangerous parts of the country, a region of muddy soils, with crocodile infested rivers and mangrove plants that obstruct travel. Small villages built on tree trunks dot the land.
For years the local bishop, Mgr Aloysius Murwito, 70, toured on small boats, often putting his own life at risk.
“We launched the initiative last year, when we asked sesawi.net and AsiaNews, who were there, to inform us about the seriousness of the situation. For safety reasons, we needed a modern motorboat,” said Tjokrodjojo, who owns an information technology business in Jakarta.
The Maria Stella Maris, which was built in Makassar (South Sulawesi), can accommodate up to seven people and will be equipped with modern navigation instruments and individual cabins.
“It is a wonderful act of love," said Bishop Murwito, who recently tested positive to the coronavirus, speaking to AsiaNews. “I would like to thank the Catholic community of Jakarta who gave us the motorboat.”
“For 50 years, the diocese had been without a motorboat,” the prelate explained. “Before this gift I used a long boat from the parish church in Bayun to cross the Arafuru River.”
Last Saturday the Maria Stella Maris made its maiden voyage, a four-hour trip from the city of Timika to Agats.
"I would also like to thank the Archbishop of Jakarta, Card Ignatius Suharyo, for giving his support and allowing Catholics in the capital to help the Diocese of Agats “, added Bishop Murwito.
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