by Mathias Hariyadi

The annual spiritual retreat organised by the Jesuits in the Archdiocese of Semarang ends today. For the first time, diocesan priests take part in the event. The goal of spiritual exercises is to underline the importance of praying together with the faithful, something priests with a busy pastoral schedule sometimes forget to do.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The annual Jesuit retreat in the Archdiocese of Semarang (Central Java) ended today after four months. It coincided with the festivities for the diocese’s 70th anniversary. It began with some priests asking, “Can we perform a retreat whilst we practice our routine?”, as a challenge to fellow diocesan priests who participated in the event for the first time.

“One day when I was making my way back to the rectory after some pastoral visits to rural areas, I felt tired. However, my parishioners had touched my heart because they had prayed for priests after the Eucharist,” Fr Noegroho Agoeng said. “I realised that my fellow Catholics in the archdiocese were encouraging me in my priestly vocation.”

Spiritual exercises are a routine practice among the archdiocese’s Jesuits, but not among diocesan priests, many of whom view them more as a waste of time compared to the more important pastoral work.

The Jesuits organised the retreat. For them, it is a way to emphasise the importance of prayer as a central moment in a priest’s everyday life. The spiritual exercises laid down by Saint Ignatius of Loyola are their model.

“What surprised me,” said Fr Suparman from Kidul Loji Parish, “was that many lay people from the archdiocese took part in the retreat for their own benefit and to support our vocation.”

“Their prayers and concern for us priests was something truly exceptional, and this is a shot in the arm for our morale.”

• indonesia
• semarang
• central
• java
• archdiocese
• spiritual
• exercises
• jesuits
• diocesan
• priests
• faithful