Mathias Hariyadi

Two new priests were ordained in the parish of the Holy Cross in Beduai. Msgr. Mencuccini: "To become priests means to consecrate all of your life to God and to the Church so that you may 'die' for the good of your flock". Local Catholics perform traditional dances and ceremonies before the consecration.

The candidate vice president will be Kiwi Hajj Ma'ruf Amin, head of the Council of the Indonesian ulema. The choice of the head of moderate Muslim religious to stem Islamic extremists. Commentators say that "Jokowi" fears especially the social campaigns of Islamic radicals.

The Sisters of Notre Dame are getting ready to communicate on the web, an idea they owe to their superior, Sr Monika Ekowati, who is also a writer. For her, today "there is an urgent need to understand the logic of social media and, last but not least, acquire a personal experience in the use of modern tools."

In a message, Pope Francis expresses his closeness to the victims of the earthquake. The toll is 98 dead and hundreds injured. The parish of St. Mary Immaculate, in Mataram, is hit. Rescuers continue to dig into the rubble. At least 20 thousand people do not have a home. The evacuation of 700 people has begun, many tourists, stuck in the 'Gili', small islands around Lombok.

The number of victims is destined to rise in the next few hours. The capital of the island of Lombok, Mataram, is the most affected area. The tsunami alert on the north coast is recalled. Most people died as a result of collapses.

Lombok island hit again by 7.0 magnitude quake

From August 18 to September 2, the Asian Games will be held in Jakarta and Palembang. Indonesian citizens accuse the authorities of organizing the event badly. Msgr. Suharyo invites the faithful to participate: "That the Games be the best opportunity to demonstrate national pride and hospitality of the country".

"Run4U" was held last Sunday. Thousands took part in the event organised by Catholic groups in the Archdiocese of Jakarta. Proceeds will go to renovate some churches and support Catholic activities in the country.

The tremor that yesterday struck the popular tourist resort killed 14 people, seriously injuring another 162. More than a thousand homes were damaged. Indonesia’s president ordered the distribution of funds for basic necessities. Rescuers are at work to evacuate the last tourists stranded on Mount Rinjani.

Number of victims rising after 6.4 earthquake hits tourist spot Lombok Island

Hundreds of priests, dozens of nuns and scores of relatives took part in the ordination at St Anthony of Padua parish in Kotabaru. The archbishop of Semarang urged the new priests "to seriously exercise the religious life of consecrated persons" through prayers. The provincial superior of the Jesuit Order, Fr Petrus Sunu Hardiyanto, assigned them their new tasks.

Mgr Agus praised the courage of the young women to say "yes" to religious life and expressed his "gratitude". Five of them became postulants and three novices at the house of Saint Therese of Lisieux. In St Anthony convent, two sisters took perpetual vows whilst 19 novices took temporary ones.