Hundreds of Catholics gathered at the Carmel Hermitage of Ngadireso in East Java on June 13 as Fr. Yohanes Indrakusuma, CSE, marked his 88th birthday and reflected on a ministry that has given rise to religious and lay communities across Indonesia.
The celebration highlighted the enduring influence of a priest whose commitment to prayer and contemplation led to the founding of the Daughters of Carmel, the Carmelitae Sancti Eliae (CSE), and the Holy Trinity Community (Komunitas Tritunggal Mahakudus or KTM), ministries that continue to form religious vocations and lay leaders decades after their establishment.
Priests of the CSE, members of the Daughters of Carmel, KTM members, and faithful from Malang and neighboring areas joined the thanksgiving gathering, which began with a concelebrated Eucharistic Mass followed by a spiritual sharing session and fellowship meal.
In his homily, Fr. Yohanes urged the faithful to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary in trusting God’s will.
“We must learn from Mary, who said, ‘Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum’—let it be done to me according to your word. Mary entrusted herself completely to God even without knowing exactly what the future would bring,” he said.
Fr. Yohanes also reflected on the humble beginnings of his ministry. He recalled that the Carmel Hermitage in Ngadireso started with limited facilities and that Masses were once celebrated under simple tents. Through prayer and the support of benefactors, the community gradually grew.
He also recounted several opportunities to establish hermitages elsewhere in Indonesia. A benefactor once offered him a 100-hectare property in Lampung, but he declined because the location was unsuitable. In West Kalimantan, plans to build a hermitage on donated land were later abandoned because of opposition from some residents and difficulties obtaining permits.
“All of this showed that God had a different plan. Eventually, the CSE and Daughters of Carmel Hermitage was established in Bandol, Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan,” he said.
Born in Nganjuk, East Java, on June 8, 1938, Fr. Yohanes was baptized into the Catholic Church in 1954, entered the Carmelite novitiate in 1960, and was ordained a priest in 1967.
His desire for silence and contemplative prayer eventually led him to embrace the life of a hermit. From that spirituality emerged several communities that would leave a lasting mark on the Catholic Church in Indonesia.
He founded the Daughters of Carmel congregation on March 19, 1982, for women religious committed to contemplative prayer and active ministry. Four years later, on July 20, 1986, he established the Carmelitae Sancti Eliae for seminarians and priests. On Jan. 11, 1987, he founded the Holy Trinity Community, a lay movement that has since expanded internationally.
In 1988, he transferred the CSE formation center to Lembah Karmel in Cikanyere, West Java. The site has since become one of Indonesia’s best-known centers for retreats and spiritual formation.
After the Mass, many participants lined up to greet Fr. Yohanes and take photographs with the priest who has served as a spiritual mentor to generations of Catholics.
Among them was his younger brother, Tri, who expressed gratitude for his brother’s long life and continued good health.
“He is the eighth child in our family, while I am the ninth. Now only the two of us remain,” he said.
Nearly six decades after his ordination, Fr. Yohanes remains widely respected for his prayer life, healing ministry, and spiritual guidance. The communities he founded continue to grow, carrying forward a legacy rooted in contemplation, simplicity, and trust in God’s providence.
