Reminiscence: The Catholic Church in Bandung, Indonesia

While checking my computer files this afternoon I found these photos. I took this pictures in November of 2007 during my second visit to Bandung, Indonesia. Bandung is the Capital City of West Java province. Its a two-hour drive from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Bandung has a long colonial History under the Dutch. It was the favorite vacation hide-away of the Dutch and even today it is still a famous tourist city in Indonesia. It is called Parsi von Java (the Paris of Java) It is connected by a six lane highway from Jakarta making land trip easier and faster. The majority of the People living in Bandung are called Sundanese or simply, Sunda. They have a reputation for beauty and gracefulness and also a valiant history. In 2007 I participated in the Programme Training on the Human Rights and Equal Status of Women in Southeast Asia sponsored by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Lund, Sweden in cooperation with the Padjadjaran University in Bandung. The two weeks workshop was hectic from dawn to dusk. But I tried my best to find time to visit the Cathedral of Bandung. The titular of the Cathedral is St. Peter. I was able to attend a Sunday Mass. The Sunday Mass was marvelous very solemn. The responsorial Psalms were sung and the Music were traditional hymns, very reverent in rendition. I hope that our Masses here in the Philippines could be celebrated in the same way. To think that in Indonesia Catholics are in a Minority. Yet despite of being a Minority Group, the Catholic Church exert influence especially in the field of Education. There are famous universities in Indonesia run by the Jesuits. In bandung they have the Parahayangan Catholic University, famous and one of the oldes in West Java. Established and administered by the Jesuits.

The Belfry of the Cathedral of St. Peter, Bandung, Indonesia

The Cathedral of Bandung is located in the City Center of Bandung located near the Bank of Indonesia Building and the Central Police Station. It is a prominent building and a sight to behold. Can you imagine the Catholic Church, a mere minority in Indonesia, yet it has a huge cathedral right in the Middle of Bandung? Indonesia is tolerant and respects freedom of religion. Although there is freedom of religion, the state recognizes only six religions, Islam, Roman Catholic, Protestantism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.

The Chancery, Bandung, Indonesia

This is the chancery and Pastoral center of the Diocese of Bandung. The Bishop's chair was vacant since January 19, 2006. It was only in May 17, 2008 that Johannes Maria Trilaksyanta Pujasumarta was elected as its current Bishop.

In front of the Chancery

After the mass, I tried every effort to meet the Parish Priest. I kissed his hand in a gesture of respect and I tried to strike a conversation with him in English. But he found it hard to speak in English instead he keep on talking to me in Bahasa Indonesia. But nonetheless he was delighted when I told him that I came from the Philippines.

The Cathedral Church in early Morning Dawn

Bank of Indonesia Building in Bandung

Co-Participants in the Human Rights Training in Small group Discussion, Malya Hotel, Bandung, Indonesia