Bishop Francis Xavier Sudartanta Hadisumarta, O. Carm. died in Jakarta at the age of 89 on Saturday, February 12.
Bishop Hadisumarta was born in what was then the Dutch East Indies on Dec. 13, 1932. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1959.
He served as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Malang, Indonesia, from 1973 to 1988 and as bishop of the Diocese of Manokwari-Sorong, Indonesia, from 1988 until his resignation in 2003.
The late prelate was president of Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) from 1979 to 1988.
Before he was ordained bishop in 1973, Hadisumarta was provincial superior of the Indonesian Province of the Carmelites.
He used to teach at the Major Seminary in Pematang Siantar in North Sumatra Province and later on in Malang Major Seminary.
As president of the bishops’ conference, Hadisumarta established the Bhumiksara Foundation with former Indonesian Finance Minister Frans Seda and Jesuit professor Kuylaars Kadarman.
The foundation aims to form young Catholics spiritually and mentally to become future leaders. It awarded scholarships to young people who would take their master’s and doctorate degrees.
Bishop Hadisumarta will be laid to rest in Malang on Monday, February 14, following a memorial service in the cathedral.
