Synod: Mgr Riana Prapdi sees young people as agents of change for Church and nation
The bishop of Ketapang stressed the important role young people played in the birth of Indonesia. For him, diversity is “our cultural heritage and a great blessing for the nation." The Indonesian Church is for inter-faith dialogue and harmony. Young Muslim woman recalls her participation in pre-Synod meetings.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The Indonesian Church urges young Catholics to become "agents of change", capable of reshaping for the better the community and its social context, said Mgr Pius Riana Prapdi (pictured, third from right), bishop of Ketapang (West Kalimantan province) and president of the Youth Commission (KomKep) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI).
Currently in the Vatican, the prelate shared with AsiaNews the message that Indonesian delegates want to pass on to the world at the Synod on Young People (3-28 October 2018).
Mgr Riana Prapdi and Mgr Adrianus Sunarko, bishop of Pangkal-Pinang, are the two Synodal Fathers representing the KWI. They are accompanied by Anastasia Indrawan (picture 2, left), a member of KomKep and a Synod auditor.
The bishop of Ketapang noted the important role played by Indonesia’s youth in the birth of the nation. Mgr Riana Prapdi cites in particular the Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge) of 28 October 1928 when young Indonesian nationalists proclaimed three ideals: homeland, nation, language.
The first day of that historic Congress, organised by young people, was held in the building of the Katholieke Jongelingen Bond, the Catholic Youth Association.
Currently, some 260 million Indonesians live on more than 17,500 islands divided in at least 300 different ethnic groups, speaking more than 700 living languages.
"It is a fact that, as Indonesians, we live and enjoy our daily life in a pluralist society, which every young Indonesian Catholic should be able to embrace,” said Mgr Riana Pradpi.
"Within such an historical and social framework, Catholic youth are called to become 'agents of change'. Our position is clear: Sumpah Pemuda has always been the reference for the nation and the Church," the bishop said.
This is partly due to the nature of many Indonesian families. "Young Catholics come from families of baptised people or people who have undergone adult conversion,” the prelate explained. “Most likely, their parents come from different ethnic groups with different languages and cultures."
"This should not be considered a 'social bond', but a good starting point for Indonesian society. Diversity is not something 'terrible', to be avoided, but it is our cultural heritage and a great blessing for the nation. It is within this framework of thoughts that parents must offer moral education in the family."
As evidence of the Indonesian Church's commitment to dialogue and inter-faith harmony in the country, Dewi Kartika Maharani Praswida (picture 3, right), a young Muslim woman, was one of the young people who took part in the pre-Synodal Meeting held in the Vatican between 19 and 24 March.
A graduate of the Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang (Central Java), she is a member of GusDurian, a youth movement affiliated with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the nation's largest Muslim organisation.
"At the beginning,” Dewi said, “as a Muslim I was surprised by my involvement in this initiative of the universal Church, which had convened so many young people from all over the world to discuss issues related to Catholics.”
"However, after days of meetings, I found the answer: Pope Francis is also interested in the opinions of non-Catholics and their expectations of the Church. Of course, my perspective was different but my colleagues appreciated it anyway. This opportunity has taught me that friendship can transcend religious affiliation."
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