Jakarta, Indonesia, 4 August 2022 -- Salesians in the Vice-Province of Indonesia should be grateful to God because God is truly good and still loves the Salesian Congregation in Indonesia. The Salesian presence in Indonesia began in 1985 in the Rajawali area of North Jakarta. Over the course of time, Salesians in Indonesia have joined with Salesians from the Provinces of the North Philippines, Southern Philippines, Timor Leste and finally in 2018 Salesians in Indonesia became a Vice-Province with 6 erected communities and 3 new presences. The number of Salesians residing in the vice provinces of Indonesia until 2022 comes to 54 confreres and 3 novices. Although the numbers are currently small, the Indonesia Vice-Province has sent missionaries to various countries such as the Netherlands, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, several Latin American countries and the next will be in Malaysia.
On 1 August 2022, the Salesian Don Bosco family in Indonesia was very grateful because there were 3 novices who made their first profession and 3 prenovices who were accepted to start their formation at the novitiate in Don Bosco Tigaraksa. The three novices who made their first profession were Cleric Ambrose Otu, Cleric Anselianus Agung Sife and Cleric Fabianus Karo. Meanwhile, the three prenovices who were accepted into the novitiate to begin their formation were Novice Jefri, Novice David and Novice Ariel.
Fr. Andrew Wong, SDB, as the Salesian Provincial of Don Bosco in Indonesia (INA) was the main celebrant at the holy mass for the first profession, accompanied by representatives of Salesian priests from various Salesian communities in Indonesia. Present at this celebration were all the brothers in the post-novitate community, Salesian coadjutor brothers, Salesian cooperators and friends of Don Bosco Indonesia. In his homily, Father Andrew invited the Salesians along with the three novices who made their first profession and the three new novices to have a heart full of gratitude to God for the call to consecrated life in the Salesian Congregation. He also thanked the Formation Team at the Novitiate, the confreres and the lay colaborators who were involved in the formation of the novices in Tigaraksa. “By following the example of the first disciples of Jesus in the Gospels, you too must have the courage to leave everything behind and follow Jesus closely.” said Father Wong. And at the end of his homily Father Andrew said: “Salesian life is joyful life but not a joke!” because it takes commitment in answering the call of God.
On the part of the new confreres, represented by Brother Anselianus, the three of them rejoiced and were very grateful for their Salesian Vocation and guidance during their time of formation at the Salesian novitiate of Don Bosco Tigaraksa Tangerang. The three new confreres are all candidates to the priesthood and they will stay in the Salesian Post-novitiate Community in Sunter to study Philosophy at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy, Jakarta.
