Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The Eucharist is the best “means” by which Christians can feel the presence of Jesus in their life, in both physical and spiritual terms, said Mgr Johannes Pujasumarta Pr, archbishop of Semarang, to a group of young Catholics and university students during a meeting held in Central Java. The prelate also said, “Participating every day in the Eucharist is a source that bears fruit for our life”, because it encourages meeting the Lord, who is a source of change and conversion.
Dozens of coordinators belonging to the ‘Indonesian Catholic Youth’ group (OMK) came from various dioceses in Java and Bali to a meeting at the Saint Theresa parish church in Wisma Salam, Magelang regency, Central Java province. Delegates from 22 dioceses met for the inter-provincial local Youth Spirituality Centre.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Mgr Pujasumarta Pr said he hoped to see youth go in “deeper water”, or Duc in Altum, from the Gospel of Luke, which the bishop uses as his Episcopal motto, in order to discover Jesus “in every aspect of daily life.” John Paul II said the same when he addressed Catholics during the 2000 Jubilee.
Young people must be agents of change, and promote a “Catholic lifestyle” within and without their community, the archbishop of Semarang said.
Citing the meeting between Simon Peter had with Jesus, which “radically changed” his life, the prelate urged young people present at the meeting to “keep the same spirit” as the apostle. Even though we are all sinners, “by taking part in the Eucharist, we can meet the Lord, the One who has changed our life.”
His remarks echo those said in preparation of the International Eucharistic Congress of June 2012, in Dublin (Ireland). The Indonesian Church is organising a similar event in Ganjuran, Yogyakarta province.
