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