A peaceful Christmas celebration in Indonesia

Mon, December 26, 2016 / 04:48 pm

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A churchgoer at Johannes the Apostle church, Wonogiri, Central Java, cleans the nativity scene made from over 3,000 used mineral water bottles on Dec. 24. JP/Magnus Hendratmo.
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A K-9 police team sifts the area around the Jakarta Catholic Cathedral on Dec. 24 to guarantee security during the Christmas service. JP/Donny Fernando
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Christians at the Protestant Church Immanuel in Central Jakarta celebrate Christmas Eve by lighting candles. JP/Donny Fernando
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Hundreds of people light candles during the Christmas Eve service in Kebonjati Protestant church, Bandung, on Dec. 24. JP/Arya Dipa
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Thousands of congregation members of Catholic Church Santa Perawan Maria Ratu Rosario Suci or the Semarang Cathedral in Central Java join the Christmas Eve service on the night of Dec. 24. The security team from the Indonesian Military, the National Police, the Public Order Agency, National Scouts and the local security work to guarantee safety on Christmas Eve in Semarang. JP/Suherdjoko
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Rev. Hieronimus Jelahu [right], a Catholic priest of Santo Arnoldus and Yoseph Waelengga Church, Ruteng, Flores East Nusa Tenggara, greets young people from the Baturrahman Waelengga Mosque after the Christmas Eve mass on Saturday night. The youth of Baturrahman Mosque were involved in securing the area around the church during Christmas mass.JP/Markus Makur
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Children enjoy the nativity scene of Jesus Christ’s birth after the children’s mass at Hati Kudus Tuhan Yesus Catholic Church, Pugeran Yogyakarta, on Christmas day. JP/Aditya Sagita
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The congregations of the troubled GKI Yasmin church and HKBP Filadelfia from Jakarta’s satellite cities hold their Christmas service in front of Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Christmas Day. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
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A church gong ensemble prepares for choir hymns during the Christmas mass in an old Catholic church, Tritunggal Mahakudus Tuka, in Dalung village, North Kuta, Badung, Bali, on Christmas day. JP/Ni Luh De Suryani
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A traffic control volunteer dressed as Santa Claus directs traffic at Jl. Wora Wari, Surakarta, Central Java. He wears the unique costume to celebrate Christmas day. JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi

Millions of Protestants and Catholics took part in Christmas Eve services all around Indonesia under tight security measures from the police and some local Muslim residents.

In Flores the peaceful coexistence of different faiths was apparent in East Manggarai regency of East Nusa Tenggara [NTT], where security for Christmas celebrations at Santo Arnoldus and Yoseph Waelengga Catholic Church involved Muslims.

In Jakarta, the police safeguarded Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations by holding the annual operation, code-named Operasi Lilin [Operation Candle], from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1. 2017.

In Central Java, personnel from the National Police, the Indonesian Military and the Public Order Agency joined forces to safeguard 252 churches across Semarang.

Many people are hoping that the safety and peace remain until the New Year’s celebration amid security threats from terrorist