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View all search resultsChristians overcome long-time hurdles to celebrate Christmas
As the building could only accommodate about 1,500 people, the church had to conduct two Christmas masses a day to serve its whole congregation, which consists of about 9,000 members. More than 5,000 people in total packed the church for Christmas masses on Tuesday evening and also on Wednesday.
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Members of Santa Clara Catholic church assemble a Christmas tree made of used plastic bottles in their church in Bekasi, West Java on Dec. 21 to welcome Christmas. This year marks the first time for the congregation to hold Christmas mass in the building after being churchless for more than two decades. (Antara/Fakhri Hermansyah)
F
or Yasinta Arianti, 25, the memories of Christmas mass that stay with her have always been about spending the celebration roofless, under a tent. So there is no question that Christmas this year feels more special to her as she and her family were finally able to enjoy the comfort of praying inside a church building, which they have all been anticipating for more than two decades.
Yasinta is a member of the Santa Clara congregation in Bekasi, West Java, which had to hold weekly masses and Christmas services in a chapel inside a shophouse in the city for the past 21 years after some local groups opposed the construction of a church.
In the past, unlucky members who could not find room inside the limited space, fit only for about 200 people, had to pray roofless outside of the shophouse, she said. During Christmas or other big days, a tent would be erected in the house's front yard to accommodate the surge in attendance.
Members of the congregation could join the mass inside the church building this year, which was completed in August. It is the first official Catholic Church in North Bekasi.
As the building could only accommodate about 1,500 people, the church had to conduct two Christmas masses a day to serve its whole congregation, which consists of about 9,000 members. More than 5,000 people in total packed the church for Christmas masses on Tuesday evening and also on Wednesday.
"I can't explain my feelings in words. I was so happy and I couldn't believe that we could finally have our church. I believe that everything has its own time and God is preparing the best for the people and the churches who are still fighting," Yasinta said.
The joy was shared by another member, Evan Kristanto, 19, who said the completion of the church building had added to the Christmas spirit and solemnity, as compared to services in the shophouse, wherein he would often have to be wary of the sun or the rain.
