Mathias Hariyadi

She was born into one of the richest families of Indonesia. Conversion while she was in Hong Kong in a luxury hotel: "I saw so many poor people who felt sick. Then I realized I had to do something for them". She entered the Missionaries of Charity, and is now based in East Timor. The joy of Indonesian Catholics for the canonization of Mother Teresa.

Yesterday Ivan Armadi Hasugian tried to detonate a bomb in the church of St. Joseph in Medan. When the bomb failed to explode, the young man attacked Fr. Albert Pandiangan armed with ax and knife. The priest suffered a light wound to left arm. In atssailant's backpacka note found reading: "There is no God but Allah”.

Suhadi Cholil, a professor with the State Islamic University in Yogyakarta, called on state schools to teach students about religions other their own. For years, others have been working on friendship between Christians and Muslims through curricula and shared life experiences.

Under new rules, Joko Widodo will forgive wealthy tax evaders on condition they bring their assets back to Indonesia and declare them to the authorities. Otherwise, they will be fined. As the rich wonder, accountants prep for extra work.

On the 71st anniversary of the country’s liberation from Dutch rule, Indonesians join in vigils and outdoor games. The government organised an official ceremony in front of the State Palace in Jakarta. President Joko Widodo is criticised for dismissing a minister only 20 days after he appointed her.

Dutch missionaries founded the institute in Muntilan, the "Bethlehem of Java", the area where Christianity was born. So far, the seminar has trained hundreds of priests, 14 of whom have become bishops. On 15 August the diocese marked the event by celebrating Mass and putting on a puppet show depicting the life of Saint Paul.

In mid-July the fundamentalists had requested the revocation of the building permit granted by the authorities in February. The Catholics says that the decision to drop the charges was made "to avoid the climate of tension that has been created between those for and against." Since 2009, the Binuko family fights for the realization of the place of worship.

The incidents took place yesterday at two different locations. Statues of Jesus and Mary were damaged in St Joseph’s Parish. The statue of the Virgin was found on the banks of a river. At the Marian shrine of Sendang Sriningsih, vandals destroyed a relief depicting the Via Crucis and hit a sculpture of Our Lady.

The suspects were on Batam Island, a few kilometres from Marina Bay, a tourist area in the city-state. According to Indonesian sources, the men belong to a jihadist group linked to Jakarta bombers.

Despite criticism from Church and world leaders, Jakarta carries out death sentences. An Indonesian, two Nigerians and a South African are killed. For now 10 prisoners saved, but they are due to be killed before 31 July. Former president Habibie writes to Joko Widodo calling for a moratorium on the death penalty.

The government is preparing the execution of 14 prisoners of different nationalities within three days. They are all accused of drug dealing or drug possession. Msgr. Suharyo asks the faithful for special prayers "so that capital punishment is removed from our legal system." The European Union demand the suspension of executions. India and Pakistan appeal to save the lives of their citizens.

A group of 36 Franciscan Sisters of Sukabumi hold a three-day meeting. The event organized by Bhumiksara Foundation, in collaboration with the Bishops' Conference. Morality, intelligence and awareness against a "rampant" phenomenon.