Young Catholic meeting in Pontianak, a 'celebration of faith', ends (photos)

by Mathias Hariyadi

A solemn Mass in St Joseph Cathedral closes four-day event organised by the Pontifical Society of Young Missionaries. More than 1,300 young people came from the country’s 35 dioceses as well as East Timor and Malaysia. All took an oath to reaffirm the commitment of the Catholic community to safeguard the unity of Indonesia as a pluralist society.

Pontianak (AsiaNews) – The more than 1,300 participants who took part in the national gathering of young Catholics in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) experienced the daily moments of prayer and religious services that marked the event as "a true celebration of faith".

Organised by the Pontifical Society of Young Missionaries (Serikat Kepausan Anak dan Remaja Misioner, SEKAMI), the jamboree, which was held between 3 and 6 July, ended with a solemn Mass in St Joseph Cathedral.

The service was led Mgr Agustinus Agus and Mgr Hieronymus Herculanus Bumbun, respectively archbishop and archbishop emeritus of the host diocese; as well as Mgr Aloysius Sudarso, archbishop of Palembang (South Sumatera); Mgr Giulio Mencuccini, bishop of Sanggau (West Kalimantan); Mgr Antonius Franciskus Subianto Bunyamin, bishop of Bandung (West Java).

The latter was also present in his capacity as Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI) and officially closed the meeting.

Fr Markus Nurwidi Pranoto, director of the KWI’s Pontifical Missionary Works (Komisi Kepausan Indonesia, KKI), handed out certificates of appreciation to representatives from all of the country’s 35 dioceses, plus those from East Timor and the Diocese of Kuching (Malaysia).

All the kids took an oath reiterating the commitment of the Catholic community to safeguard the unity of Indonesia as a pluralist society.

Finally, the bishops encouraged them to live according to the teachings of the Church and to act as messengers of the Good News, peace and tolerance.