The title “Bethlehem van Java” has long been associated with the small town of Muntilan in Central Java, a place deeply rooted in the history of the Catholic mission on the island.
That legacy began with Xavier College, the all-boys’ school and boarding house founded in Muntilan by the pioneering missionary Father van Lith, SJ, and the all-girls’ school and boarding house established by the OSF Sisters near the Buddhist Mendut Temple in neighboring Magelang Regency.
Over the decades, the two institutions formed generations of Catholics who went on to serve communities across Indonesia. Although the Mendut school and its boarding house no longer exist, the story of the Catholic mission has endured through generations, preserved in Catholic schools and at the Mission Museum in Muntilan, where visitors can trace the origins of the Church’s missionary work in Java.
Today, that legacy is finding new life through the Camino Misionero, a walking pilgrimage that retraces key sites in the history of the Catholic mission in Central Java.
The inaugural Camino Misionero took place on June 27-28, 2026, with more than 70 participants gathering in Muntilan to experience two days of prayer, historical reflection, and fellowship.
Most participants came from Jakarta and other major cities across Indonesia. Parishioners from neighboring parishes around Muntilan also joined the effort as volunteers, helping organize activities throughout the program.
The pilgrimage introduced participants to some of the most significant places in the history of the Catholic mission in Java, including Kembaran Village, the FIC Brothers’ House, Van Lith Senior High School, the Sanjaya Pastoral Center (PPSM), the Kanisius Foundation (YKCM), Muntilan Parish Church, and the Mission Museum.
Designed as a blend of history, spirituality, and community life, the Camino Misionero began on Saturday, June 27, with a historical walking tour from the Semarang Archdiocese’s Sanjaya Pastoral Center to the Mission Heritage Site in Muntilan.
In the afternoon, participants attended educational sessions and toured the Mission Museum before gathering for an evening of fellowship. The day concluded with Night Prayer at the historic Muntilan Catholic cemetery, known as Kerkhof Muntilan.
On Sunday, June 28, pilgrims walked from Kerkhof Muntilan to Mendut Church, located opposite the Buddhist Mendut Temple. The route continued to Kerkhof Mendut before concluding at St. Peter’s Church in Borobudur, where Father Yohanes Wahyu Rusmana celebrated Holy Mass.
Inspired by the Camino de Santiago
The name “Camino Misionero” draws inspiration from the Camino de Santiago, the famed Way of St. James in Spain.
Like its Spanish counterpart, the pilgrimage seeks to be more than a physical journey. It combines spiritual renewal, historical learning, and community life while encouraging participants to deepen their appreciation of the Catholic mission in Java and strengthen bonds of faith and fellowship.
Organizers envision the inaugural pilgrimage as the beginning of a continuing movement that will introduce more Catholics to the Church’s missionary heritage.
The next Camino Misionero, tentatively scheduled for November 2026, is expected to involve more parish volunteers and attract participants from across Indonesia.
Through the pilgrimage, organizers hope that the history of the Church’s mission in Java will not simply be remembered, but experienced firsthand, inspiring a new generation of Catholics to continue the missionary spirit of faith, service, and communion.
