Jakarta (AsiaNews) – The Archdiocese of Samarinda in East Kalimantan Province celebrated 100 years since its foundation at the end of May. Meetings, seminars, and moments of prayer among young Catholics traced a century of pastoral and social work and set the stage for future projects.
Mons. Florentinus Sului, Archbishop of Samarinda, expressed his “hope that by these serial celebrations we are enhanced in fostering the faith and team-work among fellow Catholics in the archdiocese; also between Catholics and local people and the government officials. This good team-work should be done for the sake of the welfare of East Kalimantan people”.
Celebrations began on May 29th in the village of Laham, about 600 km from the provincial capital Samarinda, with over one hundred young Catholics from the archdiocese who participated in Meetings, seminars, and moments of prayer. The organizing committee chose Laham, because it was there where missionaries first started their pastoral mission in the tropical forest in Samarinda some of 100 years ago. The venue will be also the place where a grand mass will be said by scores of priests next 1 July.
Other appointments are in Tering – where July 5, 6 and 7 commemorative masses will be celebrated – and in Barong Tongkok where a meeting on the future of the Church will be held. There card. Julius Darmaatmadja, Archbishop of Jakarta, will also preside over mass which will be attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia Msgr. Leopoldo Girelli and representatives from the government and other faiths. The Vatican’s ambassador will also participate in mass marking the inauguration of the new Parish in Laham.