Central Java’s Catholics promote voluntary social work for Christmas
by Mathias Hariyadi
A group of believers build bathrooms, pave floors and other jobs for households without toilets. Even in non-Christian families. Last year the community promoted the "reforestation" of the area, getting the support of the ministry and the police. Priest promotes visits to families in remote areas.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Working together to build toilets and improve homes with odd-jobs, in the name of charity and spirit of the motto "From us, for the sake of us." In this context the faithful of the parish of St. Joseph in Sidareja, in the regency of Cilacap, the Indonesian province of Central Java are approaching Christmas. An initiative based on "voluntary work", which has enjoyed great success in an area where the homes of many Catholic families and non-Catholic - the volunteer help is also extended to non-Christian households - lack bathrooms, plumbing and even floors.
Interviewed by AsiaNews, Fr Yohanes Vidi Wahyudi Pr explains simply that "toilets and bathrooms are just one of many jobs we can do to witness the faith" on a practical level, added to this are other little odd-jobs, such as "the construction of concrete floors" for houses built on bare ground.
In the area Catholics are a small minority, about 4 thousand in the face of an overwhelming majority of Muslims. Many of them perform menial tasks, including day-labourers, farm-hands, fishermen, however, they promote initiatives and volunteer work outside their Christian community. "Considering that they have no economic resources - said the priest - they prefer to help with practical work, to witness the spirit of solidarity." In particular, the project involves people with manual skills, many of whom insisted on “working for no pay”.
Last year the Catholic community promoted different initiatives, which dealt with the "reforestation" of the area through planting of new trees along the roads. This idea received support from the Ministry of Forestry and local police, who joined in the initiative. To better promote the Christmas spirit, Fr. Yohanes reveals yet another project: visits to Catholic families who live in remote locations, to establish "better relations" and help them share in the atmosphere on the eve of Christmas celebrations.
Interviewed by AsiaNews, Fr Yohanes Vidi Wahyudi Pr explains simply that "toilets and bathrooms are just one of many jobs we can do to witness the faith" on a practical level, added to this are other little odd-jobs, such as "the construction of concrete floors" for houses built on bare ground.
In the area Catholics are a small minority, about 4 thousand in the face of an overwhelming majority of Muslims. Many of them perform menial tasks, including day-labourers, farm-hands, fishermen, however, they promote initiatives and volunteer work outside their Christian community. "Considering that they have no economic resources - said the priest - they prefer to help with practical work, to witness the spirit of solidarity." In particular, the project involves people with manual skills, many of whom insisted on “working for no pay”.
Last year the Catholic community promoted different initiatives, which dealt with the "reforestation" of the area through planting of new trees along the roads. This idea received support from the Ministry of Forestry and local police, who joined in the initiative. To better promote the Christmas spirit, Fr. Yohanes reveals yet another project: visits to Catholic families who live in remote locations, to establish "better relations" and help them share in the atmosphere on the eve of Christmas celebrations.
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