Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
who is love
Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) – “The principal challenge for priests in a Muslim country such as Indonesia is to bear witness to God who is Love and to be channels of His mercy. In an increasingly globalised world, priests are called to help people experience God in their daily lives, in truth and in freedom”: Fides was told this by Archbishop S. Ecc. Mons. Ignatius Suharyo, Coadjutor archbishop of Jakarta, as the Year for Priests came to an end.
The Archbishop had just concluded a four day retreat for 213 priests from 23 Indonesian dioceses, including priest members of 19 different Religious Congregations present in the country. The retreat was organised in Jakarta to mark the closing of the Year for Priests, “in communion with the Pope and the universal Church, at the same time as the special Mass presided by the Holy Father, Benedict XVI in St Peter's Square in Rome”, the Archbishop told Fides. “While on retreat we reflected on the meaning of the priesthood and on how to bear witness in our country, so plural and so varied; we discussed our priestly spirituality and the necessity of giving credible witness. We based our reflection on the life of the Cure d'Ars but first and foremost on the example of Christ, the supreme High Priest”.
The Archbishop said that in Indonesia the figure of the priest “is generally appreciated and respected because people see him as a man of God, one who puts people in contact with the sacred and this is important in the Indonesian culture. This is why priests are usually listened to and held in high esteem”.
Among the fruits of the Year for Priests in this the world's largest Muslim country, Archbishop Suharyo included “more and deeper communion among priests in Indonesia and greater awareness among the lay faithful: during this year our laity have prayed and fasted for the holiness of their priests, and for us this was most significant”. Moreover “many young men have shown interest in the figure of the priest, and asked to know more about and to experience the journey of a priestly life: for the Church this is an opportunity and a challenge to help young men to discern the will of God for their lives”. There are great hopes then that the Year for Priests will bear an abundant harvest of vocations to the priesthood for the future. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/6/2010)
