The Archdiocese of Semarang gathered Catholic couples in Sleman for a formation on family spirituality and religious moderation in public life.
“This formation program on Catholic family life with a perspective on religious moderation is part of our annual agenda,” said CB Ismulyadi, Catholic Affairs Officer of Sleman Regency.
He said the program is intended to provide families with an opportunity to reflect on their relationships—both in communication and in faith—and to support ongoing family ministry in Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Klepu and St. John Chrysostom Parish in Pojok.
The formation was held on May 31 at the PAUD Pelita Kasih Foundation Hall, with 15 married couples participating from two parishes: Sts. Peter and Paul in Klepu and St. John Chrysostom in Pojok, Sendangarum, and Minggir.
Organized by the Catholic Affairs Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Sleman, the program carried the theme “The Peace of Christ in the Family,” according to the archdiocese.
Speakers included Sr. Agnes Samosir, FCJ (Coordinator of FCJ Outreach), Pastor Paulus Erwin Sasmita, Pr. (St. Paul Major Seminary, Kentungan), and facilitator Markus Mardius. The sessions addressed faith, communication, and personality differences.
Fr. Adolfus Suratmo Atmomartaya, Pr., pastor of the participating parishes, welcomed the initiative and said it could help married couples become more resilient and serve as examples of harmony in their parish communities.
Sr. Agnes, in her talk on family spirituality, emphasized that conflict is an inevitable part of life. She explained that humans naturally see the world differently, leading to moments of tension.
But rather than fear conflict, families can view it as “an opportunity to learn, grow, and build more authentic and harmonious relationships.”
Fr. Paulus Erwin Sasmita walked participants through the MBTI personality types, linking personality diversity to relationship challenges.
“One of the main causes of conflict is a lack of understanding of personal differences,” he said. “What makes each person unique is the combination of their personality traits.”
Markus Mardius guided couples through communication dynamics and challenges, urging them to recognize factors such as language, beliefs, and culture.
“The key to communication is understanding our own personalities,” he said. “We must adapt ourselves when interacting with others—especially our spouse—who may have a very different personality type.”
At the end of the program, couples made personal commitments, offered roses to their partners, and presented the Indonesian flag—symbolizing their role in building peace in family, Church, and society.
Participant Kristina said she appreciated the unique experience of family life and hoped to grow in love by understanding both her strengths and weaknesses.
Ignatius Suryanto, another participant, expressed gratitude for the retreat and said he hoped to deepen his understanding of himself, his spouse, and God’s love—so he could share it through his ministry.
