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.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – ‘Becoming friends in the mission of Christ’ was the theme chosen for the priestly ordination of five Jesuit deacons in St Anthony of Padua parish in Kotabaru, a district in Yogyakarta (Java Island).
Mgr Robertus Rubiyatmoko, archbishop of Semarang (Central Java), led the simple service, which was attended by hundreds of priests, dozens of nuns and scores of relatives of the new priests.
The new clergymen are Fr Agustinus Winaryanta and Fr Simon Arief Herdian Putra Tam, both originally from St Therese of Lisieux Parish in Boro (Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta); Fr Bonifacius Melkyor Pando, from St Mary immaculate Parish in Soroako (South Sulawesi); Fr Heinrich Angga Indraswara, from Sacred Heart Parish in Kramat (Central Jakarta); and Fr Immanuel Eko Anggun Sugiyono, from St Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Banyuwangi (East Java).
During his homily, Mgr Rubiyatmoko said, "We are like earthen vessels, so fragile but certain that God's love will complete our mission" adding that "those who maintain a good relationship with God will be guaranteed peace and happiness."
The archbishop of Semarang urged the new priests "to seriously exercise the religious life of consecrated persons" through prayer and pastoral services. "You are called to give yourselves and your whole life to God through his Church," he noted.
Card Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja, archbishop emeritus of Jakarta, and Mgr Julianus Kemo Sunarko, bishop emeritus of Purwokerto (Central Java), were present at the service. Both are Jesuits.
At the end of the ceremony, the provincial superior of the Order, Fr Petrus Sunu Hardiyanto, assigned the priests their new tasks: Fr Winaryanta and Fr Melkyor will be parish priests in Bongsari (Semarang) and Kotabaru (Yogyakarta); Fr Anggun Sugiyono will continue his studies in Bioethics at the Gadjah Mada University of Yogyakarta; Fr Angga Indraswara will start her first position as a lecturer at the Sanata Dharma University, also in Yogyakarta.