Mathias Hariyadi

The meeting attracted 174 priests from seven administrative units in Java, home to 557 of Indonesia’s 2,242 diocesan priests. For Fr Paulus Christian Siswantoko, president of Unio Indonesia, "The aim of this initiative is to create a 'new habitus' in society, including the Catholic community".

Construction took eight years, made possible by fundraising by the bishop, Mgr Giulio Mencuccini. The new building can hold 2,000 people, four times the capacity of the old cathedral. Traditional Dayak ceremonies welcomed the bishops before the festive service.

Thousands of Catholics celebrated the birth of the parish of St Joseph in Serengkah. Thanks to the missionary work of a Chinese man, Tan A Hak, a Dayak tribal chief asked to be baptised along with 68 children. Mgr Pius Riana Prapdi, bishop of Ketapang, praised the "spirit of altruism and sharing" practised by Tan A Hak and Mgr Pacificus Bos, apostolic prefect of the time.

The Games saw Indonesia succeed in sports and politically as Indonesia showcased to the world as a successful multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation. With the closing ceremony, Jakarta-Palembang passed the torch to Hangzhou (China).

The women religious in charge of the financial affairs of their order and other Church bodies took part in the seminar organised by the Bhumiksara Foundation, a Catholic charity serving Church and state. The workshop applied the "Ignatian reflection" method ending with an "action plan".

Think tank responds to question “How can we continue to collaborate with one’s own Alma Mater?" raised by Fr Joseph Kristanto Suratman, executive secretary of the Seminaries Commission of the Bishops’ Conference. Proposals target major and minor seminaries.

In July 2016, complaints by an ethnic Chinese Buddhist woman triggered one of the worst episodes of anti-Buddhist violence in Tanjung Balai (North Sumatra). For a leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest moderate Islamic movement in the country and the world, the verdict was "inappropriate".

The author of the act, 18 year old Jampardi, wanted to steal "precious objects", but was "emotionally provoked" by security cameras. The Toraja are an ethnic majority Christian group, about 80% of the local population. The territory was in the past the theater of sectarian violence, which pitted groups of Islamic and Protestant extremists against each other.

Seismologists recorded a series of tremors, starting before midday and throughout the day yesterday, the strongest just before midnight. The epicentre was 30 kilometres northeast of East Lombok, at a depth of 10 kilometres. A convent in Mataram serves as a base camp for rescuers and volunteers.

Many people hope the sporting event will heal the wounds caused by Islamism. The two Koreas walk together whilst their ambassadors shake hands. The video showing President Widodo entering the stadium on a motorbike is a hit with the public. The day before, the country celebrated its independence amid nationalist feelings and controversy.

The Indonesian president Joko Widodo officiates the opening ceremony at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium today, in the presence of over 35 thousand spectators. The preparations and the modernization of infrastructure required 16 months of work and a cost of about 461million euros. The archbishops of the two cities invite Catholics to show strong support for the sporting event: "We will be exemplary hosts". The collaboration between the two Koreas.

Prosecution calls for an 18-month sentence citing a fatwa. In July 2016, her complaint triggered one of the worst episodes of sectarian violence against ethnic Chinese Buddhists. Human rights activist calls for the repeal or modification of the law on religious defamation.