Nearly a hundred educators from six dioceses across Indonesia gathered at the Sanjaya Pastoral Centre in Muntilan for the second batch of the Catholic School Transformation Training Program.
Organized by the Semarang Archdiocese’s Institute for Excellence, known as LEKAS (Lembaga Ekselensi Keuskupan Agung Semarang), the initiative brought together foundation administrators, principals, and teachers from the dioceses of Semarang, Purwokerto, Malang, Bogor, Padang, and Banjarmasin.
Now in its second run since its launch in May 2025, the program seeks to strengthen Catholic education through holistic and collaborative learning.
The training opened with the presentation of the Catholic School Public Report by Fr. Deny Sulistiawan, head of the Archdiocese’s Education Development Unit.
Participants engaged in sessions covering the spirituality of Catholic education, the pedagogy of hope, school management transformation, and the use of technology in building networks and learning communities.
Rooted in faith and leadership
In the session for foundation leaders, Fr. CB Mulyatno, professor of philosophy of education at Sanata Dharma University, called on participants to embrace their mission as part of the Church’s collective journey. “We must grow together as a Church community,” he said.
Fr. Singgih Guritno, director of Theresiana School in Semarang, stressed the need to create “learning communities that nurture one another,” while Tarsisius Sarkim of Sanata Dharma University encouraged foundation leaders to exchange best practices in fostering a culture of continuous learning among educators.
Addressing school principals, Ferdinand Hindiarto, chair of LEKAS and dean of Soegijapranata Catholic University, emphasized that Catholic leadership is rooted in spirituality and mission.
Drawing from the Church document Gravissimum Educationis, he said, “Catholicity is not just an identity; it permeates all aspects and processes of our educational mission. Our task is to create learning encounters for our students.”
Teachers as agents of transformation
For teachers, Sarkim guided discussions on the “pedagogy of hope,” encouraging participants to design lessons that move beyond traditional methods toward contextual and transformative learning.
Risang Baskara, also from Sanata Dharma University, cautioned educators against relying too heavily on technology.
“What matters most is the transformative encounter with students, not just transferring materials through a presentation screen,” he said.
From formation to practice
The program concluded with the drafting of follow-up action plans under the guidance of HJ Sriyanto and Sarkim, aimed at ensuring that the training translates into tangible change within schools. Participants will reconvene a month later to present progress and share results.
“With this model, change does not stop at the seminar stage but continues as a living process of transformation within Catholic schools,” the facilitators noted.
LEKAS said the initiative reflects its mission to foster “authentic learning encounters that liberate, inspire, and renew,” in harmony with the Church’s vision of continuous renewal in education.
