Mathias Hariyadi

The bishop of Bandung hopes the visit by the US president will boost interfaith dialogue and tolerance. Moderate Muslims call on the US leader to put into practice the promises he made in Cairo about a “new beginning” with the Muslim world. Others want him to stop favouring Israel in the Middle East.

In Magelang Regency, eight sub-districts are blacked out by continuous ash fall. Yogyakarta, which is closest to the volcano, is the most affected. The lava flow has now reached nearby rivers. Experts forecast new, more powerful eruptions.

A fourth explosion of the volcano killed 49 people in the night. The displaced are over 75 thousand. Despite the ash and lava clouds, religious and laity of the Archdiocese of Samarang have built a clinic and a cafeteria in the areas at highest risk to bring relief to the population.

In Central Java, Mount Merapi erupts again, slowing rescue efforts. International flights are cancelled. Volcanologist predicts more eruptions in coming weeks. More than 50,000 displaced people stuck in makeshift camps without food, water and other basic necessities. On tsunami-battered Mentawai Islands, bad weather is hampering relief work.

The most violent since 26 October. Ash and lava plumes darken the sky of the city closest to the volcano, throwing the population into panic, including the rescue teams. Over 47 thousand refugees in camps set up by the government and parishes. Two died in the stampede that followed the last eruption.

The evacuation of affected villages on Mentawai Islands is slower than expected, despite aid pouring in from abroad. The number of dead and missing continues to climb.

The volcano began erupting last night. Hot clouds up to 600 ° C, lava, ash and toxic gases bring the population of Yogyakarta and other four districts of Central Java to their knees. Relief begins to arrive in the tsunami-affected Mentawai islands.

A tsunami caused by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. Overnight a three-meter high wave crashed into the coast of the Mentawai archipelago and flooded hundreds of homes flinging ships and boats over 200 meters from the shore. Death toll continues to rise.

In the Diocese of Purwokerto Fr. Deddy Setiawan seeks to spread the pastoral care of young Catholics, even in state schools. The Community of St. Aloysius Gonzaga is one example.

Plans to build a Catholic place of worship in Cikarang, some 60 kilometres east of Jakarta, is generating opposition among Muslim groups. At least six churches were attacked since last year. Several Protestant clergymen were also assaulted. The authorities have been criticised for failing to stem the wave of intolerance.

The Constitutional Court rules depriving the Attorney General the power to ban books and printed materials. The law of 1963 was used during the regime of President Suharto as a tool of repression of all forms of political dissent.

Shepherds see smoke coming from the front of the chapel; they find inflammable material ready for ignition. Local Catholics exclude the attacker or attackers are local because of good interfaith relations. Another attempted arson attack is registered at a local Protestant church.