Indonesian Catholics mourn the death of Bishop Wisaksono, an example of faith and devotion
The bishop of Surabaya passed away yesterday at the age of 69. He had been hospitalised for some time. One of his many initiatives was establishing a seminary, which, over the years, has played a major role in priestly training. Many fellow bishops remember the “Chinese” bishop for his zeal in financial matters.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The Church and Indonesian Catholics mourn the death of Bishop Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono of Surabaya, one of the most authoritative figures in evangelisation and community development in the world’s most populous Muslim majority country.
The prelate passed away yesterday at the age of 69 at the Paulo Catholic Hospital (RKZ) in Surabaya, East Java, where he had been hospitalised for prostate cancer for some time.
For Catholics, the bishop represented a model of faith and devotion in the mission, who enable the local Church to develop rapidly, who undertook numerous local initiatives, some dating back decades that left their mark on bishops and seminarians alike.
The future bishop of Surabaya set up a centre to train young men for the priesthood, inspired by his own spirituality, called Tahun Rohani Oriented Seminaries, or simply Tor Seminaries.
Thanks to his work and that of other prelates in East Java, Tor Seminary opened in Lawang, dedicated to Saint John XXIII, becoming a stage for candidates to the seminary and future priestly ordination.
It draws young people from 10 dioceses; eight on Kalimantan Island, plus the dioceses of Malang and Bali.
The establishment proved itself over time as a place where young men can deepen their vocations and studies; several students who trained there completed their journey abroad, some in Spain, earning doctorates in philosophy and theology. It is hoped that the Diocese of Surabaya may have its own Catholic university at some time in the future.
An ethnic Chinese, Bishop Wisaksono was born Oei Tik Haw in Surabaya in 1953, originally from the Perak parish church, in the city centre.
He began his studies at the Garum Minor Seminary in Blitar (East Java), followed by theological studies at the Saint Paul Major Seminary in Yogyakarta. After seven years, he was ordained a priest by then diocesan Bishop Jan Antonius Klooster CM, in January 1982.
On 3 April 2007 he was appointed bishop of Surabaya, as announced by then Vatican envoy Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, while his episcopal consecration was held on 27 June of the same year by the Archbishop of Jakarta, Card Julius Darmaatmadja SJ, with, as concelebrants, Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo of Semarang and Bishop Herman Pandoyoputro, O. Carm, of Malang.
Bishop Wisaksono’s most significant contribution to the Indonesian Bishops' Conference (KWI) was in the field of finances, harshly criticising some of its support for “festive” events, which he deemed inappropriate or fruitless.
Although he was sometimes overruled and some of the events were approved despite his objections, he managed to pull them off successfully.
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