Religious men and women from across the Archdiocese of Semarang in Indonesia gathered last month at the Marian Shrine of Gua Maria Kerep Ambarawa to mark the Jubilee Year through prayer, reflection, and communal worship.
Hundreds of priests, brothers, and sisters from various religious congregations joined the celebration organized by IKHRAR MUPERKAS KAS, the Association for Works and Spiritual Life among Religious, under the Council of Religious Leaders of the archdiocese.
The gathering allowed participants to step back from daily ministries, renew faith, and give thanks for years of catechetical and pastoral service.
The program opened with Eucharistic celebration led by Fr. FX Sugiyana, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Semarang. He was joined by the provincials of the Society of Jesus and the Missionaries of the Holy Family, along with other priests. The liturgy marked the Jubilee pilgrimage through shared prayer and silence.
In a dialogue and sharing session after the Mass, Fr. Sugiyana described the Jubilee Year as a call to interior renewal. “The Jubilee Year is a time to return to a pure heart, to God’s mercy, and to our mission as a Church present for others,” he said.
He also outlined the Archdiocese of Semarang’s Pastoral Guidelines for 2026, which focus on three priorities: a joyful Church, an inspiring Church, and a Church that promotes human flourishing.
According to Fr. Sugiyana, inner renewal is essential if Church ministers are to bring happiness, inspiration, and well-being to society.
Addressing members of IKHRAR MUPERKAS, he urged continued commitment to catechetical and pastoral service amid changing social conditions.
“The Church needs people who are deeply rooted in prayer and who bear fruit through concrete actions that build communion,” he said.
Participants later shared experiences and hopes for the future of pastoral and catechetical ministry. Many expressed gratitude for celebrating the Jubilee at Kerep Ambarawa, a site of historical and spiritual significance for the local Church.
Br. Flavianus MTB described the 2025 IKHRAR Jubilee celebration as a moment of grace that strengthened religious vocation.
“In this moment of grace, we are united by a shared hope: to keep the flame of vocation and fidelity alive in the mission entrusted to us by God. True happiness is not found within ourselves, but is born when we fully rely on the goodness and faithful love of God who calls and accompanies us,” he said.
He added that the gathering underscored the communal nature of religious life. “We walk together with Jesus, our true Friend, toward the fullness of life. May this encounter renew fraternity, rekindle hope, and give us the courage to move forward in the light of His love,” he said.
Sr. Fransiska ADM said the celebration offered deep spiritual renewal and reaffirmed the Church’s call to hope.
“Through his homily and reflections, the vicar general invited us to return to the core of our vocation, to live as people of hope. Today’s world needs witnesses of faith who can ignite hope through their presence, words, and loving service,” she said.
She said the values of joy, inspiration, and human dignity are daily commitments for religious men and women, describing the IKHRAR gathering as a Jubilee moment that renewed zeal and strengthened their mission to bring hope and God’s joy to the world.
