Seventeen seminarians underwent the diaconate ceremony in Yogyakarta. The diocese of Purwokerto (Central Java) celebrated two priestly and two diaconal ordinations. In Sintang (West Kalimantan province), a local diocesan priest was ordained.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The Indonesian Church will celebrate the ordination of 38 deacons in a one-week period. For Catholics, this is a moment of great joy.
Last Wednesday, Mgr Robertus Rubiyatmoko, archbishop of Semarang, led the consecration ceremony of 17 seminarians (pictures 1, 2 and 3) at the St Paul Major Seminary in Yogyakarta, Central Java. More ceremonies will follow in the coming days, in other dioceses in Java and West Kalimantan.
Fr Joko Setyo Prakosa, rector of the institute, told AsiaNews that the new deacons come from various diocesan seminaries, in particular from the archdioceses of Semarang and Merauke (Papua province) and from a number of religious orders (Jesuits, Carmelites, and missionaries of the Holy Family).
Also on Wednesday, the diocese of Purwokerto (Central Java) celebrated two priestly and three diaconal ordinations, this according to Fr Puryatno, diocesan administrator.
Since Purwokerto does not have a titular bishop at present due to the illness and the consequent resignation of Mgr Julianus Sunarka, the ceremony was officiated by Mgr Antonius Subianto Bunjamin of Bandung (West Java).
On Friday, in the diocese of Sintang (province of West Kalimantan), the bishop, Mgr Samuel Oton Sidin, ordained a local diocesan priest (picture 4), said Sister Maria Seba.
On 1st February, Mgr Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan will preside over the ordination of 18 new deacons in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Malang (East Java).
The latter will include diocesans, Carmelites, Lazarists, Disciples of the Lord, Servants of Mary as well as Verbites.