Despite pandemic restrictions still in place in Indonesia, the ordination ceremony took place as usual. Archbishop Yohanes Harun Yuwono imparted the sacrament of priesthood. Malang and Merauke are getting new deacons and priests.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) – Eight new priests were ordained on Wednesday in Palembang, capital of South Sumatera (Sumatra), which falls within the Indonesian Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Although some pandemic restrictions remain in place, the ceremony was held at St Peter’s parish church. Archbishop Yohanes Harun Yuwono of Palembang imparted the sacrament of priesthood to the eight deacons.
The new priests and their new assignments are: Methodius Darmuat Abdi Buana (Dehon Foundation in Jakarta); Agustinus Tri Winarno (parish priest in Biak, Diocese of Timika, Papua); Yosafat Hengki Sanjaya (parish priest at Trinity church in Palembang); Finsentius Ari Setiono (director of Holy Mary Orphanage, Pasang Surut); Albertus Bayu Christanto (to study canon law in Rome); Fransiskus Suseno (diaconate in Biak and later parish priest in Timika, Papua); Martinus Joko Widiatmoko (parish priest in Riau province).
“I want to express gratitude to the families of the newly ordained priests for voluntarily letting their children serve the Lord in the Church,” said Fr Andreas Suparman, head of the Indonesian province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
"Your religious vocation should always be enriched by Christ's love for human beings", he added in his address to the young priests.
Due to pandemic restrictions, only a few dozen religious were able to attend the ceremony along with some family members and Bishop Emeritus Aloysius Sudarso of Palembang.
Meanwhile, Bishop Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan of Malang (East Java) yesterday ordained as deacons 14 seminarians from the local diocese and other religious congregations.
On 5 May, Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmoko of Semarang will ordain as deacons three Jesuits and a diocesan from Merauke of Papua. This ordination will take place in Yogyakarta, Central Java.