Yogyakarta newly formed theology alumni group includes Card Suharyo
Called Ikafite, the group is made of alumni from Universitas Sanata Dharma, a Catholic university. For the cardinal, the group can “contribute in various forms and actions” to the Indonesian Church.
Yogyakarta (AsiaNews) – The Faculty of Theology[*] at the Universitas Sanata Dharma (USD), a Catholic university in Yogyakarta (Central Java), has reopened its doors with renewed vigour, thanks to the Ikafite group, a forum of alumni.
Formed last September, the group plans to organise events and initiatives in favour of the Catholic Church and Indonesian society in cooperation with the university.
“We contacted thousands of former students and asked them to join this forum to participate in the activities that we will schedule from here on," said Ikafite group leader Piet Lomena.
USD’s Faculty of Theology draws most of the seminarians from the different religious congregations on the island of Java and the local dioceses of Semarang and Purwokerto. Currently, it has more than 400 students, both religious and laity.
Created in 1967, the school has some illustrious alumni who are now leading figures in the Indonesian Church, most notably Archbishop Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia, Archbishop Robertus Rubiatmoko of Semarang, and Archbishop Agustinus Agus of Pontianak.
In addition, the Ikafite group includes dozens of professional figures who have distinguished themselves in various capacities in different public and private fields.
“There is always an opportunity for Ikafite to contribute in various forms and actions that generate benefits to a variety of groups in Indonesia, be it the nation, Catholics, and the people,” said Card Suharyo in a pre-recorded video message to the group.
A. Kunarwoko, a former student who graduated from a Rome-based university, shares that view. “As Indonesian Catholics, we are faced with a constant challenge: how to contribute to the development of the nation and its people.”
[*] The faculty was formerly known as the Institute of Philosophy and Theology.
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