Jakarta’s message of harmony
The Jakarta Archdiocese celebrated its 212th anniversary with an interfaith walk attended by more than three thousand Catholics, as well as adherents of other faiths.
May 18, 2019
By Katharina R. Lestari
The Jakarta Archdiocese celebrated its 212th anniversary with an interfaith walk attended by more than three thousand Catholics, as well as adherents of other faiths.
The archdiocese’s history dates back to 1807 when the Apostolic Prefecture of Batavia — the old name of Jakarta — was established.
Participants, some in traditional attire, on May 4 walked several kilometres in support of harmony and acceptance of religious diversity, starting and ending at Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral Church.
In the presence of various government officials and religious leaders, the programme included Islamic pop music, an ethnic-Chinese Barongsai lion dance, giant indigenous ondel-ondel figures and extravagant lion-peafowl dance costumes.
“Your presence in this programme encourages us,” Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta stated in a speech.
He said the event would help to foster the right spirit to implement the fourth principle of Pancasila, the nation’s national ideology based on tolerance, under the slogan We are wise, our nation becomes dignified.
Pancasila stipulates belief in one God, a just and civilised society, a united Indonesia, democracy guided by consensus and social justice for all.
Fr Antonius Suyadi, who heads the archdiocese’s Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, said the event was mainly aimed at promoting interfaith harmony.
However, he added that it was also an expression of thanks to God for the successful completion of recent presidential and legislative elections.
“I hope this (programme) can serve as a symbol of a true brotherhood among us who are part of the national life,” Fr Suyadi said.
Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, who officially kicked-off the interfaith walk, also championed interfaith dialogue.
“There are two words which show the characteristics of our nation in this interfaith walk, namely diversity and religion,” he said.
“These two cannot be separated from Indonesia, a nation which is diverse and religious.”
He also praised Jesuit Fr Albertus Soegijapranata, who became the first Indonesian native bishop. The government minister noted that Archbishop Soegijapranata had referred to his co-religionists as being 100 percent Catholic as well as 100 per cent Indonesian.
Saifuddin said the slogan could be applied to all of the different faiths in Indonesia, be it Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism or Confucianism.
“We are Indonesians essentially,” he added. --ucanews.com
Total Comments:0