The Archdiocese of Semarang marked the lead-up to its 85th anniversary with a commemorative forum at the Sanjaya Pastoral Centre (PPSM) in Muntilan on June 7.
The forum centered on the theme “Journeying Together, Sharing Blessings,” which aligned with the Universal Church’s Jubilee Year, “Peregrinantes in Spem (Pilgrims in Hope).”
Dozens of clergy, religious, catechists, and lay leaders gathered for a forum titled The Dynamics of Church Life in KAS, reflecting on the historical journey and missionary identity of the archdiocese.
“We aim to renew the pioneering spirit of missionaries and catechists who built the Church in Central Java,” said Fr. Yohanes Gunawan, chairperson of the event and current dean of the Spiritual Preparatory Seminary for diocesan major seminarians in Semarang.
Fr. Hasto Rosariyanto SJ, a Jesuit expert in church history, emphasized the collaborative foundation between missionaries and catechists, describing them as “two wings that enable the Church to soar.”
He outlined six types of parishes that shaped the pastoral landscape of the archdiocese—from traditional village churches to urban centers.
Fr. CB Mulyatno Pr, Dean of the Theology Faculty at Sanata Dharma University, underscored the archdiocese’s identity as a missionary Church, noting that synergy between institutions, communities, and individuals has sustained its dynamic pastoral presence.
“Since some decades ago to this present time, the nation’s most fruitful diocese in terms of grooming seminarians and religious figures are still continuing to dispatch scores of priests, religious, and lay missionaries across Indonesia, while maintaining strong catechetical formation,” he said.
A highlight of the event was the conferral of the Sarikrama Award, honoring outstanding catechists and lay ministers. The award commemorates Barnabas Sarikrama, the first influential indigenous catechist in Java.
Baptized by Jesuit missionary Fr. Franciscus van Lith SJ on Pentecost in 1904, Sarikrama introduced Christianity to dozens of Javanese locals in Kalibawang, Kulon Progo.
Father van Lith gave him the name “Sarikrama,” meaning “a commoner capable of embracing the essence of Christian teachings.”
His evangelizing efforts contributed to the baptism of at least 171 Javanese Catholics that same year. In 1928, Pope Pius XI awarded Sarikrama the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal.
The archdiocese also launched a new commemorative book, The Pilgrimage of the Archdiocese of Semarang, which documents the contributions of clergy, religious, and laity in building the local Church.
The anniversary celebration will culminate in a Thanksgiving Mass at Jatidiri Stadium in Semarang on June 29, 2025, expected to draw over 20,000 faithful and all bishops from across Java. The festivities will also include youth festivals, liturgical contests, and charity initiatives.
“This anniversary is not a conclusion but a call to continue building a grounded, inclusive, and missionary Church,” Fr. Gunawan said. – with report from Fr. Yohanes Gunawan Pr
