Sharing: Pilgrimage to Central Java

Mrs. Eliza invited her daughter in-law Ms. Mei and me to go on pilgrimage to Central Java on August 14, 2015.  The pilgrimage was arranged by the Parish Pastoral Centre Fundraising Team of St. Peter and Paul Church Jakarta (http://www.kaj.or.id/paroki/dekenat-jakarta-barat-i/paroki-mangga-besar-st-petrus-paulus ). 

We left around 5:30 a.m. by bus to a Marian Shrine in Weleri-Kendal (http://guamariabesokor.blogspot.com/) and then stayed overnight in Semarang.   Fr. Padmo, SJ led the prayer and gave a short reflection on the bus. 

  Mrs. Rimbun, my classmate at Bogor Agricultural University, and I had a chance to talk for a while on Aug 15 morning before leaving for Girisonta (http://puspitaprovindo.blogspot.com/p/informasi.html).   Fr. Padmo gave explanation about the cemetery, the retirement house, the retreat house and the novitiate at the Girisonta compound.  I met Fr. Cahyo, SJ before we left for Marian Shrine in Tuntang-Semarang (http://ziarah-santa-maria.blogspot.com/2011/12/gua-maria-sendang-sancta-rosa-mystica.html).   Fr. Dibya, SJ joined the pilgrimage on the second day while Fr. Padmo went back to Jakarta on the second day.

We went to the Marian Shrine in Kerep-Ambarawa (http://www.guamariakerep.org/) by free small vans from the Ambarawa bus station, which were provided by the Team of 61th Anniversary Celebration of Marian Shrine in Kerep.  I was moved to see so many pilgrims from several cities attending this blessing ceremony. The team provided 7,500 booklets and it’s not enough.  Bishop of Semarang Archdiocese Mgr. J. Pujasumarta led the blessing ceremony accompanied by Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja, several Bishops and Priests.  He went up to bless the the 42m Marian statue (http://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20150815214059-20-72411/di-semarang-patung-bunda-maria-tertinggi-se-asia-tenggara/, http://www.sesawi.net/2015/08/13/sepekan-sebelum-pemberkatan-patung-maria-assumpta-di-gua-kerep-ambarawa/), which was made by local artists Mr. Adi with his two siblings.   We didn’t join the candle procession from the parking lot to the Shrine followed by the Eucharist as there were too many pilgrims besides we should go to Magelang for staying overnight.

We attended Sunday Mass at Marian Shrine Sendangsono (https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sendangsono).  It’s the 111th years of the first baptism in Sendangsono and the 65th years of Marian Shrine Sendangsono thanksgiving Novena Mass.   We sang religious, patriotic, childhood, popular songs on the way back to Jakarta.  It’s the vigil of our Independence Day.  I led the closing prayer upon arriving St. Peter and Paul Church Jakarta. 

Thank you very much to the organizing team for their hardwoking in preparing this pilgrimage, all the pilgrims as the companions on the pilgrimage and Mrs. Eliza.  May the  fundraising target for the Pastoral Centre can be reached soon and the construction can be done as schedule.  

Here is the link of the pictures: share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2Vf

         

Jombang, August 24, 2015

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Opini: Pilih Komunitas yang Tepat

Suara Pembaharuan, 13 Agustus 2015

Sharing: Visiting Prison in Malang

Seminarian Adi, CM usually visits “Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Kelas IIA Malang,” an institution centre for women, so I asked him to arrange a visit for me during my trip to Malang.

          Seminarians Adi, CM, Daniel, CM and I registered at the centre using our identity card to meet two Indonesian and a Chinese inmates.  One ID can meet one inmates but we can meet together.  After waiting for a while, we were called to go inside the centre.  All men visitors are physically checked while all women visitors are stamped on their arm and given a card number to be worn on the neck.   We should leave our shoes and wear provided slippers before entering the visiting room.     

          The visiting room was full when we arrived.  It’s an Eid season so there were more than 50 persons in the visiting room, all sat on the floor except the two officers and two shopkeepers.   There are tables and chairs available for regular season.  The visitors can buy drink, snack and meal and then eat together with the inmates in the visiting room.  Simple meals three times a day were delivered to the inmates’ room.  Drink, snack and meal are available for sale at the centre (http://malangkota.go.id/2015/04/21/citra-negatif-lapas-harus-dirubah-dan-dihilangkan/).      

          The inmates can get income by making handicraft to be sold on the center’s shop, which is open for public.  

          I talked with the Chinese inmate most of the time in Putonghua.  She promise to contact me in Hong Kong when she goes back to Hong Kong.  She can speak a little bit of Indonesian as she has been in the centre for more than two years.  She and her husband were baptized during their stay in another centre.  They were grateful for our visit.

          I am grateful for this opportunity to visit prison in Indonesia for the first time as well as the opportunity to meet several friends in Malang: Ghebre Mikhael CM community, Fr. Agus, SVD and two classmates at Bogor Agricultural University Mrs. Utami and Mrs. Cici.       

Jombang, July 30, 2015

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible