ASIA/INDONESIA - Bishop of the Moluccas uses TikTok to proclaim the faith

Amboina (Agenzia Fides) - "The geographical difficulties of the vast Moluccas, for example, are no longer an obstacle: thanks to technology, distance is no longer a serious problem; we have a bridge that unites the entire Catholic community of the Diocese of Amboina," Seno Ngutra, Bishop of Amboyna told Fides. In a diocese made up of countless small islands, he uses mass media and social media as a means of connection in his pastoral work.
However, these means do not replace human contact and direct relationships with the various communities, which is why the bishop travels extensively: he celebrates Masses and administers the sacraments in parishes scattered throughout the Moluccas archipelago in eastern Indonesia. On these islands, where evangelization began in 1546 with the work of the Spanish missionary Saint Francis Xavier, the Diocese of Amboina, which encompasses the entire archipelago, has a population of more than three million (Christians and Muslims) and 117,000 Catholics distributed among 64 parishes. Also due to their geographical location, "parish communities are called to maintain their autonomy and independence, not only in terms of administration, but also in pastoral and spiritual life," Bishop Ngutra emphasized.
Each parish, even those in remote areas, the bishop explained, is therefore encouraged, on this path of autonomy—always lived in mutual communion—to become active in the three areas of pastoral care: liturgy, catechesis, and charitable works. And where there are particular needs, the bishop himself becomes active and raises awareness among donors who wish to support the Church in its development. The parish receiving the donations responds to the donors with a message or a video message via smartphone: "Even if it is a simple gesture, the donors are very happy because they feel appreciated and happy," the bishop notes, adding another useful function of modern technology. Bishop Ngutra is convinced of the "great potential of social media for spreading the faith in an island nation like ours. The media has a profound impact on human life. It can have negative effects, but it can also be an extraordinary means of proclamation," he says. Bishop Ngutra has been accustomed to using technology in his pastoral ministry, using various digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok, which is very popular among young people. This habit continues: now the bishop regularly shares his daily faith reflections every morning, known as "Spiritual Morning Dewdrops," which are viewed by the faithful, priests, religious, and young people throughout the territory. And in the evening, he publishes "the Night Blessing" in the form of short videos that illuminate aspects of the spiritual life. His social media messages are eagerly awaited by many of the faithful of the Diocese of Amboina, who joyfully accept the short daily word from their Pastor. In recent weeks, the bishop has also begun offering content on TikTok about questions of faith and catechesis on specific topics. "Young people spend a lot of time in the digital world. If we do not engage with them on these platforms, we miss the opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel," he says. He wants to convey to social media users how close their bishop is. "Even when I was elected Bishop of Amboina, I received the news of my appointment via the Zoom platform," he recalls. "For me, this is a sign that media and digital technologies will be an important part of the proclamation and service of the new evangelization," he notes. Today, the faithful call him the "online bishop" because, they say, "even through these platforms the message of Christ can reach the hearts of his people." (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 13/6/2025)

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