On a bright September morning, the chapel of Christus Sacerdos Minor Seminary (SMCS) in Pematangsiantar, a city in North Sumatra, Indonesia, was filled with song.
Young seminarians joined alumni, priests, and parishioners to celebrate a milestone: 75 years since the seminary first opened its doors in 1950.
For Archbishop Kornelius Sipayung, OFMCap, of Medan, an alumnus of SMCS, the Jubilee was more than an anniversary. “Seventy-five years is not an end; it is a new beginning,” he said in his homily. “The seminary must remain holy, listening always to the whisper of Jesus: Follow Me, a call that remains as relevant today as ever.”
That call has already shaped thousands of lives. Since its founding, more than 6,500 young men have studied at SMCS. Among them: seven became bishops, 331 were ordained priests, and many others serve the Church and society in varied professions.
More than a school
Walking across the campus, one senses that SMCS is more than a school. Behind its red brick walls, it is a house of formation.
“Education here is holistic,” explained Rector Fr. John Rufinus Saragih, OFMCap. “We shape not only the mind, but also the heart and character of future priests.”
Today, 236 students are guided by priests, teachers, sisters, and staff. Their days combine classes in both regular curricula and sacred scripture with leadership training, parish visits, choir practice, and even psychological assessments, all meant to help them grow into balanced, resilient men.
Gratitude in action
The Jubilee itself became part of that formation. Seminarians joined social services in five parishes, held public speaking workshops, and joined 1,500 participants in a lively fun walk through Pematangsiantar’s streets.
They also turned their focus outward, to the environment. On the shores of Lake Toba, the world’s largest volcanic lake, also in North Sumatra, students and staff released 5,000 carp fingerlings, a symbolic step in caring for creation.
“Caring for the environment is part of caring for God’s gift of life,” said committee chair Mr. Herbinus Sihotang, who oversaw nine months of Jubilee preparations.
Remembering and renewing
No anniversary is complete without recording the journey. For SMCS, this came in the form of a commemorative volume, Ad Altiora: 75 Years Pilgrimage of Christus Sacerdos Minor Seminary Pematangsiantar 1950–2025.
The book traces the seminary’s beginnings in Padang, West Sumatra province, in 1950, and its relocation to Pematangsiantar, North Sumatra, in 1953. It records generations who have heard and answered the call to priesthood.
For alumni chairman Mr. Mangadar Situmorang, former Dean of Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, West Java, the Jubilee was both reflection and recommitment: “This celebration is about remembering the past, appreciating its fruits, and affirming our mission for the future.”
A Church and civic celebration
The Jubilee drew bishops, priests, educators, lawmakers, civic leaders, and lay Catholics. Among the guests was Mr. Rapidin Simbolon, an Indonesian lawmaker. The evening closed not with solemnity, but with joy, highlighted by Catholic singer Maria Calista Pasaribu, winner of the national Mamamia Song Festival, who added her voice to the festivities.
In his message, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Piero Pioppo, the Vatican’s ambassador to Indonesia, highlighted the seminary’s legacy of priestly formation in Sumatra. He recalled Pope John Paul II’s 1989 visit to Medan, when the Pope noted that “the very small seeds of religious vocation have grown into a vast and flourishing harvest.”
Archbishop Sipayung reminded the community of the seminary’s true mission: “This must be a place where every seminarian deepens his formation, growing into maturity. Formators are called to accompany them closely, nurturing evangelical values, developing intellectual capacity, and strengthening the spirit of service.”
Archbishop Robertus Rubiyatmoko of Semarang (on the island of Java), who also chairs the Seminary Commission of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI), emphasized that not all seminarians are destined for priesthood. Those who leave, he said, should not be seen as “losers,” but as individuals who continue to serve society in other professions.
Looking ahead
As the Jubilee year concludes, SMCS looks to the future much as it began in 1950: with the mission to nurture young men who can hear, and answer, the demanding yet life-giving call of Christ.
For 75 years, the seminary has been a place where the whisper still resounds: “Follow Me.”
(Mathias Hariyadi is a journalist and freelance writer based in Indonesia, who contributes to global Catholic magazines and platforms.)
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
Latest News
