Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Semarang (Agenzia Fides) - "On behalf of Catholic people in Indonesia, I would like to express my gratitude to the Holy Father, Benedict XVI, focusing his prayer on the Christian communities of Asia, to which Indonesia belongs": This is what His Exc. Mgr. Johannes Pujasumarta, Archbishop of Semarang and Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Indonesia says in a letter addressed to the Holy Father of which a copy was sent to Fides, commenting the missionary intention for the month of September 2011 on "Why the Christian communities in Asia proclaim the Gospel with fervor, witnessing to its beauty with the joy of faith".
"Especially refering to the Indonesian context - the Archbishop writes - I would like to express our gratitude to the Holy See for the establishment of the Indonesian Episcopal Hierarchy 50 years ago, by issuing the bull Quod Christus Adorandus (January 3, 1961). At the beginning of this year Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia invited Indonesian Catholics to give thanks to God for that reason, celebrating it in various ways, at local level, in every diocese, and national levels. It is an opportunity to encourage the Catholic people to build a Church in order to be more and more Catholic (meaning universal), and more and more Indonesian ".
Referring to the mission of the Church in Indonesia, Mgr. Pujasumarta notes that "the last general assembly, held in November 2010, was a precious moment to share our experiences of faith, to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God", and to find concrete ways of "how to encourage the inculturation, interreligious dialogue and the empowerment of the poor". "The Bishops of Indonesia - concludes the letter - will have the opportunity to pay Ad Limina visit to the Holy See, September 29, 2011. It will be a moment of encouragement for us to proclaim the Gospel with fervor, witnessing to its beauty with the joy of faith ". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 06/09/2011)
