Coinciding with the Feast of The Archangels (Wednesday, 29/09/2021), the friars in the Province of Indonesia who made St. Michael the Archangels as the protector of the Province celebrates the feast of the patron of the Province. At the same time, the friars from the province, including the friars at the Timor Leste Foundation, also celebrated a monastic life party and the priesthood of some old Friars by zoom meeting. They were Fr. Alfons Suhardi, who celebrated 60 years of his monastic life, Fr. Marcel Onggol and Fr. Felix Kabupung who celebrated 50 years of monastic life, Fr. Vincent Kwek and Fr. Robby Wowor who celebrates 40 monastic life, Fr. Vitalis Nonggur and Fr. Gabriel Maing, who celebrates 40 years of the priesthood, as well as Fr. Adri Nahal, Fr. Eddy Wiyono, and Fr. Stanislaus Suharyanto who celebrated 25 years of monastic life.
The meeting was initiated by the OFM Kitchen of Evangelism and Spirituality in collaboration with the Franciscan Media Center with the theme “Walking Together Caring for Life ”. This event began with the Worship of the Word which was led by Fr. Johnny Dohut OFM. In his reflection, Fr. Johnny stressed the importance of keeping yourself from the temptations of today’s demons which are manifested in various forms of negative attitudes, such as intellectual arrogance, spiritual arrogance, greed, etc. Fr. Johnny stated, the figure of St. Michael the Archangels who became the Province of Indonesia patron’s was often depicted as a warlord who fights and eradicates demons. Reflecting on St. Michael, the friars in this Province should also faithfully and diligently eradicate the demons that are within each of them.
Furthermore, the Provincial Minister, Fr. Mikhael Peruhe OFM, in his speech congratulated the partygoers and continued congratulations from the Minister General, Fr. Massimo Fusarelli OFM, to the Province of Indonesia that is celebrating a patron feast. Interspersed with various events prepared by several communities, the parties took turns briefly sharing the intricacies of their struggles in treading the way of life as Franciscan religious and as priests. Hopefully the testimony of the life and loyalty of these friars can inspire the young generation of OFM in Indonesia and Timor Leste in treading their vocation as Friar minor.
Fr. Ambrosius Haward, OFM
