Central Java, Catholic Church Celebrates a Boom in Vocations

Asia News ^ | 2/4/12 | Mathias Hariyadi

[marshmallow]

After three years of decline, a sharp increase in requests for admission to the seminaries. The St. Peter Canisius in Mertoyudan, run by Jesuits, is celebrating the 100 year with a record number of students. Most come from the archdiocese of Semarang.Bishop of Purwokerto: "huge number".

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - With over 250 students and seminarians in the new year, the number of candidates to the priesthood in Central Java has experienced a sharp growth, after three years of slow decline. The Indonesian Church is celebrating this u-turn, as confirmed rectors of seminaries and diocesan bishops. Father Gandhi Hartono SJ, professor and dean of the Minor Seminary of St. Peter Canisius, Mertoyudan in Magelang regency, reports that the Jesuit school is ready to welcome over 150 candidates from hundreds of scattered parishes in the Archdiocese of Semarang, in Diocese of Purwokerto and other areas of the province of Central Java. The same enthusiasm is apparent from the comments of the rector of the seminary, Fr. Ignatius Sumaryo SJ, who confirms that the greatest number of future seminarians comes from Semarang.

In June 2012 the Minor Seminary of St. Peter Canisius celebrates 100 years of life. An important goal for the institution, property of the Archdiocese of Semarang, but run by Jesuit priests along with the "natives" of the area. Many of the priests now active in Indonesia - including bishops, cardinals or consecrated - were once students at this facility.

In the island of Java there are three minor seminaries: Wacana Bhakti in South Jakarta, owned by the local archdiocese, St. Vincent de Paul in Garum, in East Java, belonging to the Diocese of Surabaya and the Yogyakarta Berthinianum postulate, run by the Missionaries of the Sacred Family.