A total of 119 children and youth from four ministries of the Brothers of Saint Aloysius (CSA) in Indonesia’s Java region gathered from February 20 to 22 at the St. Aloisius Junior High School Dormitory complex in Turi, Sleman Regency, in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
The three-day program brought together participants from Aloisius Putra Orphanage in Madiun, East Java; Benih Kasih Orphanage in Kenjeran, Surabaya, East Java; St. Bernardus Dormitory in Bandungan, Semarang Regency, Central Java; and St. Aloisius Dormitory in Turi, Yogyakarta. The event aimed to strengthen relationships among the youth and reinforce the congregation’s core values of Fraternity, Love, and Peace (FLP).
Formation and Exchange
The gathering opened with introductory and team-building activities designed to help participants from different institutions become acquainted. Organizers said the program sought to create space for interaction among children who are cared for in separate houses across Java.
One of the central sessions featured a reflection on religious life by Br. Libert Jehadit, CSA, who shared his vocation journey and daily responsibilities as a religious brother. For many participants, it was an opportunity to learn more about consecrated life within the congregation that administers their schools and homes.
“We’re not only playing here, but also learning how to share and serve,” one participant said during the event.
Sports and Cultural Presentations
The second day focused on sports and cultural exchange. After morning prayer, inter-dormitory and inter-orphanage competitions were held in basketball, futsal, badminton, and volleyball. Organizers emphasized teamwork and participation rather than competition results.
In the evening, each institution presented a cultural performance. Benih Kasih Orphanage performed a dance inspired by Flores Island in eastern Indonesia. Aloisius Putra Orphanage in Madiun staged a short drama with moral themes. St. Aloisius Turi presented a collaborative dance incorporating elements from several Indonesian regions, while St. Bernardus Bandungan showcased martial arts demonstrations combining wushu and silat.
The performances provided an opportunity for participants to present their talents and learn about the cultural backgrounds represented within the group.
Prayer and Pilgrimage
On the final day, participants attended a Eucharistic celebration offered in thanksgiving for the gathering. The group later made a pilgrimage to Gua Maria Marganingsih, a Marian grotto in Yogyakarta Province, where they prayed for their families and future plans.
The program concluded with recreational activities in the Prambanan area, a district in Yogyakarta known for its historical and tourism sites.
Mission Context
The Brothers of Saint Aloysius serve in educational institutions, dormitories, and orphanages in several parts of Indonesia. According to organizers, the annual gathering is part of their broader mission to accompany young people entrusted to their care and to promote fraternity across their ministries.
At the end of the three-day meeting, participants returned to their respective cities in East and Central Java and Yogyakarta, with organizers expressing hope that connections formed during the event would continue beyond the gathering.
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.
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