Online the first meeting of the Indonesian Catholic diaspora
The event, organised by the Association of Journalists, was attended by more than 2,000 people. Archbishop of Jakarta, Card. Suharyo: "Seeing the congregations led by our compatriots is a source of great pride".
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - "Indonesia is providing the world with more consecrated people than any other country and this is magnificent". These are the words pronounced on May 7 by the Archbishop of Jakarta, Card. Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, on the occasion of the first online meeting of the Indonesian Catholic diaspora. "Seeing that more and more religious congregations are led by our compatriots is a source of great pride," the cardinal added.
Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas was on the same wavelength. "The Indonesian diaspora is a strong national resource for influencing the global world," the official said during the "Easter Global Diaspora Eucharist", entitled "Indonesia to the Continents". The event, attended online and in attendance by over 2,000 people, was organised by the Indonesian Catholic Journalists Association in cooperation with several entities, including the Indonesian Embassy to the Holy See.
A Eucharistic celebration was held by two Indonesian priests in Rome, Fr Marco Solo and Fr Leo Mali. The homily was delivered by the superior general of the Missionaries of the Holy Family, Fr Agustinus Purnama.
Interviewed by AsiaNews, the former Indonesian ambassador to Suriname, Dominicus Supratikto, said: "As I myself experienced during my official mandate, our presence as a Catholic figure has gained a lot of attention from the local people".
The former Indonesian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Stefanus Yuwono, also shared his impressions: "The most interesting and challenging issue in the near future will be to see how our compatriots in the diaspora can become supportive partners for our missionaries abroad, to help them deal with local problems in the countries where these missionaries work".
Indonesian missionaries can be found in more than 70 countries around the world. The first evangelisation of Indonesia took place with the arrival of St Francis Xavier in the 16th century, although the first Christian presence dates back to 1318, when the Franciscan friar Odorico Pordenone landed in Java. Nowadays, following the decline in vocations in Europe, it is mainly Indonesian missionaries who leave for the rest of the world.
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