Regional Assembly Urges Indonesian Church to Offer Concrete and Sustainable Pastoral Care for Migrants

The 12th Pastoral Assembly of the Ecclesiastical Region of Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, began on July 1 with a renewed call to care for migrant workers and their families.

The meeting, currently underway in the Diocese of Larantuka, East Flores, has brought together a remarkable gathering of nine bishops from across the Nusa Tenggara region, joined by delegates from dioceses in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as government officials, migrant protection agencies, law enforcement, and members of various religious congregations.

The event is being hosted by Bishop Fransiskus Kopong Kung of Larantuka, who also serves as the assembly’s keynote speaker. Bishop Kopong Kung did not mince words as he urged the Church to move beyond discussion and take concrete pastoral action to support migrants and their families, who often suffer from human trafficking, labor exploitation, and economic vulnerability.

“Migration is not a new topic for us,” Bishop Kung reminded the assembly. “It’s a continuation of our long-standing reflection from previous gatherings in Mataloko and Atambua. The COVID-19 pandemic may have delayed our pastoral response, but now is the time to act.”

He expressed gratitude to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor Melki Laka Lena and local government leaders for their ongoing cooperation with the Church, emphasizing the importance of Church–State partnerships in addressing the social realities of the people.

Representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Workers’ Protection (PPMI) and the National Police Headquarters (Mabes POLRI) echoed the Church’s concern. They acknowledged the growing number of NTT migrant workers falling victim to exploitation and scams, despite government efforts to promote safe and dignified migration pathways.

One concrete proposal that emerged from the opening day was the formation of a multi-stakeholder task force bringing together traditional leaders, community figures, and faith leaders—to monitor, accompany, and protect prospective migrant workers both before departure and while abroad.

In addition to pastoral care, participants were encouraged to promote local economic development as a way to reduce the push factors driving unsafe migration.

“Let’s build East Nusa Tenggara together,” Bishop Kung appealed passionately, calling on both the Church and the government to share responsibility for creating better opportunities at home for the region’s youth.

As the assembly continues, upcoming sessions will focus on sharing best practices between dioceses, formulating pastoral strategies, and mapping out policies to ensure the Church’s ongoing and effective accompaniment of migrants across Nusa Tenggara and beyond.