A Message of Brotherhood and Harmony during Christmas
Christians are happy to celebrate Christmas this year more freely as the pandemic eases. Christmas this year also saw the strengthening of brotherhood and harmony.
Family Christmas Mass at the Cathedral Church, Central Jakarta on Sunday (25/12/2022)
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Christmas Day church services, which took place without limited capacity, were met with joy by those who celebrated the holiday across the country. It is hoped that the spirit of Christmas will continue to strengthen brotherhood and harmony among the people.
“Let us continue to strengthen our brotherhood, strengthen our harmony for the rise of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Merry Christmas, may God bless us all,” said President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo during his visit to the Bogor Cathedral in West Java at the end of Mass on Sunday (25/12/2022).
On Christmas Day this year, President Jokowi visited several churches in Bogor. Before going to the Bogor Cathedral, the President paid a visit to the Protestant Church in Western Indonesia (GPIB) Jemaat Zebaoth, Bogor.
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Apart from observing the Christmas celebrations himself, the President also greeted and wished Christians a Merry Christmas during this occasion. “I saw how happy, how very happy ladies and gentlemen were to welcome Christmas this year,” said the President.
It is hoped that all Christians celebrated Christmas in peace and joy. “And we must also continue to foster brotherhood, strengthen brotherhood, strengthen harmony between us,” said the former Jakarta governor.
On social media, President Jokowi also expressed hope that Christmas would bring peace and joy. Hopefully, he said, love would always shelter everyone in the nation.
Symbol of diversity
Christians’ enthusiasm for celebrating Christmas this year was reported across various regions of the archipelago. This was reflected by the people’s enthusiasm to go to church, despite it being a small space, and their festive attire.
As a symbol of the diversity that unites the people, the Christmas Eve Mass at the Santa Theresia Catholic Church in Balikpapan municipality, East Kalimantan, had nuances of the Dayak Bahau tribe. This was seen through the costumes of the church members during the Mass procession and the accompaniment of the sape, a traditional Dayak stringed musical instrument.
Vicar General of the Jakarta Archdiocese (KAJ), Bishop of KAJ Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo, Pastor Head of Parish Cathedral Romo Hani R Hartoko, SJ (from left) in a press conference on the meaning of Christmas 2022 at the Pastoral Work Building, Jakarta Cathedral, Sunday (25/12/2022 ). KAJ invites people to live the value of caring and loving the country.
Such enthusiasm for the Christmas Eve mass also led some church congregations to stand. For example, some Catholics at the hall of St Ignatius Church, Magelang, Central Java, were not able to find any seats.
Around 500 congregants were seen standing outside the Ijen Cathedral Church in Malang, East Java, on Saturday evening. The last two Christmas Eves had not seen this kind of enthusiasm as activities in places of worship were restricted due to high numbers of Covid-19 cases.
The atmosphere became livelier when several governors, mayors and regional police officials visited Christmas celebrations in various places.
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Vice President Ma’ruf Amin also wished Christians in Indonesia a Merry Christmas. “To Christians in Indonesia, I wish you a Merry Christmas. May the Christmas celebration be a form of your gratitude to God Almighty, who always bestows His gifts upon you,” said Vice President Amin in a recorded greeting via YouTube on Sunday.
Christians were invited to continue to sow kindness and compassion towards others, break the barriers of difference, bring peace and strengthen brotherhood.
“Continue to strengthen harmony and maintain the integrity of the nation and state,” said Vice President Amin.
There is no need to worry too much, as long as you [received] a booster shot, wash your hands and wear a mask.
The VP also requested that Christmas and New Year celebrations this year comply with health protocols, noting that disciplined implementation of health protocols was necessary for mutual safety.
The same message was conveyed by Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who asked that health protocols, such as wearing masks, be adhered to.
“There is no need to worry too much, as long as you [received] a booster shot, wash your hands and wear a mask,” said Luhut, following the Christmas Eve service at HKBP Menteng Church in Jakarta.
The congregation of children prays solemnly while carrying out Christmas mass at the Church of Santa Theresia Jakarta, Central Jakarta, Sunday (25/12/2022). This Mass is primarily for children.
Caring spirit
On the meaning of Christmas this year, the Jakarta Archdiocese conveyed two main values, namely the spirit of love for the homeland and caring. This invitation to cultivate a caring spirit was strengthened by the World Giving Index by the Charities Aid Foundation. In the report, Indonesia is ranked as the most generous country in 2022 among more than 100 countries in the world.
Archbishop of Jakarta Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, in a Christmas 2022 press conference at the Pastoral Building of the Jakarta Cathedral on Sunday, exemplified the willingness of Indonesians to act swiftly when a disaster occurs. There is hope that all people live the value of caring in this way.
“If these [values] are constantly bombarded with things that are divisive or prioritize the interests of one’s own group, the virtues of our noble nation will slowly fade away. It is our responsibility to care for and develop a caring spirit as well as love for our homeland in all its breadth and depth,” said Cardinal Suharyo.
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Meanwhile, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD hoped that Christmas celebrations this year would serve as a moment to foster awareness of good religious practices.
“If everyone has good faith, then of course the community will also be good and we can work together,” said Mahfud at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua Kotabaru, Yogyakarta, on Saturday (24/12) evening.
Mahfud added that Christmas celebrations in various parts of Indonesia were carried out safely and smoothly.
National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo and Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Adm. Yudo Margono also monitored the Christmas Eve service at GPIB Immanuel, Gambir, Central Jakarta.
In his speech, Listyo invited the congregation to be grateful because the government had allowed churches to hold Christmas services at full capacity. The easing of COVID-19 restrictions was expected to improve lives in 2023.
If everyone has good faith, then of course the community will also be good and we can work together.
Listyo and Yudo wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Appreciation was also extended to social organizations involved in maintaining and securing Christmas celebrations.
“Praise be to God, today it is not only the TNI and police, but we are also working together with Banser [Nahdlatul Ulama’s Ansor young wing] and Kokam [Muhammadiyah Youth Force Readiness Command], for security. [This is] to ensure that the Christmas celebration services run safely and smoothly according to the President’s expectations,” Listyo said.
Meanwhile, Yudo invited everyone to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation.
Moreover, starting in 2023, Indonesia will enter a political year with new dynamics and challenges.
Acting Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono also expressed his appreciation for all parties that had cooperated to ensure that Christmas celebrations this year were conducive, safe and peaceful. (INA/WWKM/Z11/Z17/HRS/Z15/Z09/CIP/EGI/WER)
This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.
