The Indonesian Ministry for Religious Affairs’ Catholic Guidance Directorate, widely known as Direktorat Bimas Katolik Kemenag RI, hosted a pivotal national conference aimed at fostering a spirit of nationwide compassion.
In June, key figures from six major Indonesian Archdioceses — Medan, Palembang, Semarang, Makassar, Pontianak, Samarinda, Merauke, Ende, and Kupang — gathered to deliberate the establishment of a national fund-raising scheme and its legal framework. Notably, the Jakarta Archdiocese was absent.
The conference, lasting four days, also welcomed numerous Catholic mass organizations such as WKRI, ISKA, Pemuda Katolik, and PMKRI, with LiCAS.News representing Catholic media in Indonesia.
Chief officers from provincial Catholic Guidance Offices across Jakarta, Central Java, Papua, South Sulawesi, South Sumatra, West Java, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and East Nusa Tenggara also attended.
The agenda focused on several critical questions:
- Is there an urgent need to establish a national fund-raising scheme and institution to kindle the spirit of compassion among the Catholic congregation?
- How can the existing scheme and institution led by the Jakarta Archdiocese be elevated to a national level?
- Is replication of the scheme feasible across all 37 dioceses in Indonesia?
BAKKAT KAJ: A Model of Success
Established in 2017, BAKKAT KAJ (Badan Amal Kasih Katolik Keuskupan Agung Jakarta), or Jakarta Archdiocese’s Charity Agency, stands as a testament to successful crowd-funding.
The initiative began when the Catholic Guidance General Directorate approached Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo with a novel idea, which swiftly came to fruition.
Mr. Suparman, Director of the Ministry’s Catholic Guidance General Directorate, expressed optimism at the conference, stating, “I personally believe that our Catholic Church of Indonesia could design much more numerous humanitarian initiatives to carry out our compassionate mission to others.”
Dr. Aloma Sarumaha, the Ministry’s Catholic Affairs Chief, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for a nationwide adoption of this initiative.
Covid-19: A Catalyst for Expansion
The Covid-19 pandemic, according to BAKKAT KAJ’s top representative Mr. Tedjo Endriyarto, was a turning point, raising the agency’s profile dramatically.
“The pandemic has always been BAKKAT KAJ’s historic moment when our crowd-funding scheme was widely disseminated to all Indonesian Catholics,” he said, noting the challenges of quickly addressing urgent needs such as masks and medical supplies.
“After all,” he added, “the pandemic became a blessing in disguise for BAKKAT KAJ.”
Widespread Acclaim for BAKKAT’s Initiatives
Numerous Catholic hospitals across Indonesia have benefited from BAKKAT KAJ’s financial and health aid. Fr. Hengky Kariwop MSC, General Vicarius of Merauke Archdiocese, and Sr. Maria Seba SFIC from St. Vincentius’ Hospital in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, expressed their gratitude for the support during these challenging times.
Future Expectations and Challenges
The conference concluded with a forward-looking tone. Mr. Suparman challenged attendees to learn from the best practices of the Indonesian Islamic “Baznas” crowd-funding scheme.
Prof Noor Ahmad, Chairman of the Islamic Baznas, encouraged the Catholic community to adopt similar strategies.
In response, General Vicarius priests from Palembang, Pontianak, Merauke, and Makassar proposed either elevating BAKKAT KAJ to a national status or establishing new regional agencies.
However, they cautioned that some dioceses face significant economic challenges that could impede the establishment of independent agencies.
The conference ended with a strong recommendation for a national strategy to unify and expand charitable efforts across Indonesia’s vast archipelago, underscoring a collective commitment to compassion and humanitarian outreach.
