by Mathias Hariyadi

Every Sunday for years, Lukas Prima holds free medical clinics to the poor of his parish in Indonesia, including many Muslims with his wife and other doctors. His testimony is among those presented at a meeting held on 9 October in Jakarta, to support the mission of the laity in the Church.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – For years Jakarta based doctor graduate in German Lukas Prima in has been engaged with his wife in the care of the sick in the parish of Jakobus (Jakarta). "My desire - he says - is to practice my faith through my work and enrich my pastoral mission among those who need medical attention."

In Indonesia, there are few and poorly organized medical clinics, and the basic health care is often offered by parishes. Every Sunday in the parish of Jakobus, Lukas and other doctors offer a free check-up to all those who request it and have recently started some courses for the training of health personnel. Many patients are often poor Muslims who have no access to medical services. "By taking care of these people – adds Prima - I can carry out my mission of lay witness to Christian values, having compassion and love for the sick."

Lukas's testimony is among those of other lay Catholics who have gathered in Jakarta for a meeting to support the mission of the laity in the Church.

On October 9, led by Father Peter Aman (OFM), a professor of theology at Dryarkara High School of Philosophy in Jakarta, 35 participants discussed the contents of Apostolicam Actuositatem ¸ the Second Vatican Council's decree on the lay apostolate.

The event was organized by the Kelompok Bakti Kasih Kemanusiaan (KBKK), the Catholic Association in Jakarta, which aims to publish and explain, to those who request it, encyclicals and other Church documents.

• Indonesia
• Jakarta
• catholic
• church
• lay
• witness
• mission
• doctor
• health
• care
• poor
• sick