Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ende (Agenzia Fides) - “The Indonesian island of Flores is a happy example of Muslim Christian harmony among families, in schools and in society. This happens when there is respect and reciprocal trust and joint efforts for the common good”: this is part of a conversation Fides had with Sr Daniela Martinello, a member of the congregation of Holy Face Sisters, who has been on mission in Indonesia for 13 years.
Flores is the only part of Indonesia, a Muslim majority country with 200 million Muslims, where Christians are a majority due to its Portuguese heritage: Flores has a population of 1.5 million 60% Catholic and 40% Muslim.
Sr Daniela tells how the Sisters of the Holy Face of Jesus a congregation founded by Blessed Maria Pia Mastena to “propagate, repair and re-establish the sweet face of Jesus in souls” began their mission in Indonesia: “ In 1991, we were invited to Asia and we went to Indonesia and settled in Flores and Timor. In this far east Asian people our charisma was welcomed, incarnated and enriched in the sober and meditative style of these people who value silence and a proper measure in all things. We sisters, Italians and Indonesians, live with the simplicity of the Gospel in schools, catechism classes, caring for university students and members of parish groups, adults of various associations, and pastoral work in the parish. We also care for the poor in our Houses and at home: the sick, prisoners, anyone who comes to us for help, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims or Hindus, with whom we live happily promoting dialogue and ecumenism”.
Today Holy face Sisters are involved in basic pastoral care in the archdiocese of Ende and in the villages of Maumere and Kupang, in Timor: “We have found a context of enthusiasm for the faith, but not deeply rooted since it is grafted onto an animist cultural background. There is a strong and developed lay reality, but lacking in formation and here our work is useful. We have begun to work with children organising Holy Childhood activity and opening a kindergarten where we give human and religious education in dialogue and agreement with the local government authorities”.
In Flores, says Sister Daniela, Muslim-Christian relations are exceptionally good: “There is harmony among Muslims and Christians in the same family, it is quite normal for children to be of different religions. I remember the story of twins one Catholic the other Muslim and example of harmony. The fact is that in Flores the institution of the family is still a strong cultural tradition and the bond of blood is important. In Flores there is a good Forum for Interreligious Dialogue, which often intervenes to settle disputes connected with all sorts of issues which are solved by a mixed team so enmity between the two communities does not arise”.
Both communities are on the watch for the possible presence of fundamentalists: “During Catholic and Muslim religious holidays people pay attention to new faces. The local people make sure possible radical fanatics stay away (we remember the clashes in the Moluccas Islands). Often young Muslims keep guard around a church and young Catholics keep watch at the local mosque to prevent the infiltration of fundamentalists. The police are always on the watch. Everyone works together to prevent small tensions from growing also because the situation of poverty is fertile ground for radicalism”.
In schools there is osmosis among Catholics and Muslims: “The local Muslims schools do not teach rigidly Koran and some of the pupils are Catholics and Muslim children attend our schools. In both, in agreement with the local authorities, religious instruction is given : what is more as Sisters we were able to give vocation pastoral talks to Catholics in a Muslim school”.
Islam in Flores is tolerant, deeply influenced by Sufi mystics. It should be remembered Sister Daniela says, “ that Indonesia's first president Sukarno, who was exiled to Flores, dialogued with the Catholic community and some Christian values were elaborated in the Pancasila, five basic principles which inspire Indonesian social life”.
“The two communities - Sister Daniela concludes - live in full respect and on excellent terms because both have at heart the common good”; an example she hopes will spread to other areas of Indonesia where there is tension and to the rest of the world. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/9/2007 righe 44 parole 471)
