About Unio Indonesia

By 2010, Indonesia had more than 1,700 diocesan priests, including 15 bishops who had originally been diocesan priests.

In 2005, Indonesia had 1,407 diocesan priests across 37 dioceses, serving nearly 7 million Catholics among approximately 230 million Indonesians. The number of diocesan priests was increasing by an estimated 50–70 new ordinations each year. In 1993, there were only 663 diocesan priests. Their number grew to 793 in 1995, 1,135 in 2000, and 1,293 in 2003. In 2008, there were around 1,500 diocesan priests in Indonesia.

What is the history of diocesan priests and of their association in Indonesia? How have Indonesian diocesan priests grown, and what challenges have they faced?

On 25 April 1935, the first Indonesian diocesan priest, Fr. Johannes Boen Thiam Kiat, ordained in Pangkalpinang by Apostolic Vicar of Padang Bishop Brans OFMCap. Fr. Boen was born in the village of Ju Hin, 17 km south of Pangkalpinang. He finished his major seminary in Penang, Malaysia, and in Hongkong. In Japanese occupation, he was the only priest in Apostolic Prefecture of Bangka and Belitung. Fr. Boen was a very simple diocesan priest who paid special attention to poor people. He passed away on 31 May 1982 in Pangkalpinang.

In 1936, St. Paul Major Seminary in Yogyakarta, Central Java, the first major seminary in Indonesia, was established by Archbishop Petrus Willekens SJ, Apostolic Vicar of Jakarta. On 26 July 1942, the first four diocesan priests graduated from this major seminary were ordained by Archbishop A. Soegijopranata SJ. They were Fr. Aloysius Purwadiharja (Semarang), Fr. H. Voogdt (Padang), Fr. Simon Lengkong (Manado), and Fr. Wenceslaus Lengkong (Manado).

In 1950, Fr. Padmoseputra from Semarang published BERITA as the first bulletin for diocesan priests in Indonesia. In the same year, diocesan priests started to have meetings. Then, in Mertoyudan, there was an idea to have an association of diocesan priests. To this idea, Archbishop Soegijopranata SJ jokingly asked whether diocesan priests wanted to have a union of workers like the union of factory workers.

By 15 July 1955, Unio of the Archdiocese of Semarang was formed as the first association of diocesan priests in Indonesia. The first president was Fr. Danuwinoto, who was then replaced by Fr. Yustinus Darmoyuwono, who later became the first Indonesian cardinal.

On 28–29 June 1977 in Salam, Central Java, the Unio of the Archdiocese of Semarang invited priests from Bogor, Bandung, Purwokerto, Bali, Manado, Atambua, and Merauke to discuss the Statutes of Unio. Most of the priests in this meeting were graduates of the Major Seminary in Yogyakarta.

On 14–17 June 1983, the first national assembly of Unio Indonesia was held in Jakarta. There were representatives from 19 dioceses. Then at the second national assembly held in Malang in 1986, Unio Indonesia decided to join the Apostolic Union of the Clergy (AUC). The second assembly also finalized the Statutes of Unio Indonesia, which were in substance a translation of the Statutes of the AUC received from Mgr. Juan Esquarda Bifet in Italian and French. The translator was Fr. Johanes Pujasumarta while he studied in Rome. Unio Indonesia was officially accepted as a member of the AUC on 21 October 1986. The Statutes of Unio Indonesia were then approved by the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference on 13 November 1986.

The Third National Assembly of Unio Indonesia was held in Yogyakarta in 1989, the fourth in Salam, Central Java in 1992, the fifth in Bandung in 1995, the sixth in Jakarta in 1999, the seventh in Surabaya in 2002, and the eighth in Palasari, Bali in 2005. In most of the national assemblies, all dioceses were usually represented. The 9th National Assembly was scheduled for Makassar and Toraja on 4–10 August 2008.

The international presidents of the AUC were present in Bandung in 1995 (Fr. Giuseppe Magrin) and in Palasari, Bali in 2005 (Mgr. Julio Daniel Botia Aponte). In Bandung in 1995, Mgr. Bernard Prince, Secretary General of the Pontifical Mission Societies from the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in Rome, was also present. In Palasari, Bali, Mgr. Novatus Rugambwa, the first secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature to Indonesia, opened the assembly. Also present as special guests were two diocesan priests from Kuala Lumpur and four diocesan priests from the Philippines (two from Davao and two from San Carlos). Unio Indonesia had sent invitations to attend this eighth national assembly to most Southeast Asian dioceses, but only three dioceses were represented.

Unio in a diocese as an association of diocesan priests was established because there were some diocesan priests eager and willing to communicate and cooperate with diocesan priests from the same diocese. Unio Indonesia was formed because they wanted to have a network with other dioceses.

In practice, the real community life among diocesan priests is in their own dioceses. It is in their own dioceses that diocesan priests practice their brotherhood by facilitating meetings, recollections, retreats, and other programs, including holiday programs. In some dioceses, they also have a Unio house where they can meet or stay.

At the national level, the national assembly was held once every three years. The national council was also responsible for a house built in Jakarta in 1984 as a transit or guest house for diocesan priests who visit Jakarta for different purposes, such as medical reasons, meetings, courses, or holidays. By the end of 2006, the Unio house in Jakarta was completely renovated after more than 20 years of being used as a support for priests when they visit Jakarta.

In number, the growth of diocesan priests in Indonesia was quite significant. There were around 50–70 newly ordained diocesan priests each year. In Indonesia, the number of religious priests was more than 2,000. With 1,700 diocesan priests, Indonesia had more than 4,000 priests to serve more than 7 million Indonesian Catholics.

In service, Indonesian diocesan priests were working in all kinds of services. There were then 15 diocesan bishops. More than 50 diocesan priests worked in other dioceses, including at the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference. Besides parishes, many also worked at major and minor seminaries. At the time of writing, Indonesia had not sent any diocesan priest abroad as a missionary. At the same time, religious orders had sent many priests, nuns, and brothers abroad. The SVD, for example, had sent more than 300 SVD priests all over the world.

In quality, more and more diocesan priests were sent to study abroad all over the world. But in general, the majority of diocesan priests did not have the chance to have better ongoing formation programs. The Indonesian Bishops’ Conference with the Association of Major Religious Superiors formed a Working Committee of Ongoing Formation of Indonesian Priests. This committee organized training-for-trainers programs to facilitate ongoing formation programs in all dioceses and religious orders. But it was still not enough. Unio Indonesia started its own ongoing formation programs. At the 9th National Assembly, Unio Indonesia planned to propose more ongoing formation programs for its members. The hope was that Unio Indonesia could contribute to the development of Indonesian diocesan priests in serving the Church and the people.