Indonesia Bishop celebrates 50 years of priesthood

Retired Franciscan Bishop Michael Cosmas Angkur of Bogor in West Java celebrated 50 years of priesthood on July 14.

Jul 17, 2017

JAKARTA: Retired Franciscan Bishop Michael Cosmas Angkur of Bogor in West Java celebrated 50 years of priesthood on July 14.

Three bishops, including his successor Franciscan Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, Archbishop Vincentius Sensi Potokota of Ende, and Ruteng Bishop Hubertus Leteng, attended a thanksgiving ceremony, in his hometown of Lewur in Flores. Some 45 priests were also present.

Government officials were also in attendance, including Eusabius Binsasi, director-general of the Catholic Community Guidance office of the Religious Ministry and local government officials.

Bishop Angkur, 80, was ordained a priest on July 14 1967. He was ordained as bishop of Bogor on Oct. 23 1994 and served there for 20 years.

Prior to his appointment as bishop he was Franciscan provincial and head of the Commission for Family and Commission for Education of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference.

Bishop Syukur said Bishop Angkur has carried out Christ's command to serve God sincerely.

"He is a figure who never stays silent and always tries to make breakthroughs in his work," he said.

"While serving as the Franciscan provincial, he opened a new mission in Timor Leste where at that time many religious congregations did not want to be because of the tense political situation," he said.

Bishop Potokota said Bishop Agkur was a shepherd who emphasizes the simplicity of life, which is an essential virtue for every church minister in the world today.--ucanews.com