TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Ledalero: Exporting indigenized religion and priests

The country is a large exporter of Indonesian migrant workers (TKI), and at around 9 million strong most TKI are domestic workers and laborers according to the World Bank. Catholic priests also number among them today, thanks to seminaries like Ledalero in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.

Duncan Graham (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Flores, East Nusa Tenggara
Sun, August 18, 2019

Share This Article

Change Size

Ledalero: Exporting indigenized religion and priests		                            Standing tall: Ledalero college's Church of St. Paul was destroyed in the 1992 earthquake – along with the college's lecture rooms, admin facilities and accommodation – but it was rebuilt, and its three spires rises to the heavens today. (Erlinawati Graham/-)

T

he Bible was brought to Indonesia by thousands of European missionaries across the centuries. While there are restrictions today on how and where foreigners can preach in Indonesia, there aren’t too many who are keen to come.

By contrast, Indonesia's Catholic graduates are now taking their version of the word of God to the West.

The top Catholic institute in Indonesia is the Ledalero Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Katolik (STFK Ledalero), a college of Catholic philosophy that is run by the Societas Verbi Divini (SVD) – the Society of the Divine Word. The college is located just outside Maumere in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.

“We’re now the largest provider of SVD apostles (also called Verbites) to the world,” said counselor Bill Burt, an Australian.

“We have about 300 young men studying. This year’s graduates will be going to Russia, Latvia, South American countries, Norway, Poland and Ukraine and Australia.”

Burt will soon retire to Melbourne; then there will be only two non-Indonesian priests in Sikka regency, including the capital Maumere.

Ledalero's staff canteen has a wall displaying the portraits of the college's leaders, past and present. The early rows show bearded sages with stares severe; however the most recent photos are of dark-skinned and clean-shaven men – just like the diners. The church is becoming indigenized, and not just in Indonesia.

to Read Full Story

We accept

TJP - Visa
TJP - Mastercard
TJP - GoPay
{

Your Opinion Counts

Your thoughts matter - share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.