Monsignor Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono, “Shepherd Arek Suroboyo” Passes Away

Bishop of Surabaya Monsignor (Mgr) Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono passed away due to illness. The "Suroboyo Arek Shepherd" left behind 145,000 Catholic Church members in the Surabaya Diocese.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

Bishop Surabaya Monsignor (Mgr) Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono celebrated his Episcopal consecration in 2020 during his lifetime.

SURABAYA, KOMPAS - Bishop of Surabaya Monsignor (Mgr) Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono passed away while undergoing treatment at St Vincentius a Paulo Catholic Hospital (RKZ), Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday (10/8/2023) at 10:29 am. The bishop passed away at the age of 69 years and 318 days, allegedly due to the cancer that he had been suffering from for years.

The departure of the Bishop leaves grief for around 145,000 Catholic followers in the Diocese of Surabaya, which includes western parts of East Java as well as Blora and Rembang (Central Java).

In a written statement, the Secretary of the Surabaya Diocese RD (Reverendus Dominus) Paulus Febrianto stated that the Bishop's body was placed in the RKZ Chapel for a prayer procession by the clergy, namely priests (romos), brothers, nuns, and sisters.

Also read: Bishop of Surabaya Dies

KOMPAS/AMBROSIUS HARTO

A screenshot from the YouTube account of the Social Commission of Surabaya Bishopric shows Surabaya Bishop Monsignor (Mgr) Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono leading the Good Friday Service at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (Cathedral) in Surabaya on Friday (4/2/2021).

Thursday at 19.00, the bishop's body was laid to rest at the Hati Kudus Jesus Church (Cathedral) in Surabaya. Then, at 20.00, a funeral mass (requiem) was held by the main celebrant, the Bishop of Malang, Mgr Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan OCarm.

On Friday (11/8/2023) at 18:00, a requiem mass and closing of the casket will be held. On Saturday (12/8/2023) at 09:00, a mass will be held followed by the departure of the body to the Pieta Mausoleum or a special tomb for bishops and priests of the Surabaya Diocese in Goa Maria Pohsarang, Puhsarang, Kediri. At the mausoleum, on Saturday at 14:00, a funeral mass will be held.

"The passing of the Bishop of Surabaya is a deep sorrow for all of us. Let us unite in prayer that Monsignor Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono may rest in peace with the Father in heaven," said Paulus Febrianto in a written statement."

Also read: Bishop of Surabaya Ordains Three Priests of the United Word of God

KOMPAS/AGNES SWETTA PANDIA

Bishop of Surabaya Mgr Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono accompanied by Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of Surabaya RD Yosef Eko Budi Susilo ordained three priests from the Society of the Word of God, namely P Siprianus Jegaut, P Kondradus Tampani, and P Joan Nami Pangondian Siagian at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Surabaya on Monday (30/1/2023).

Contacted separately, Kanisius Karyadi, a layperson, activist in 1998, and author of a biography of Wisaksono, The Maestro of Perak, expressed his deep sorrow. Surabaya Diocese has lost a good shepherd with character, Arek Suroboyo.

"The Bishop's father may be of Chinese descent, but he is a nationalist and has a very Surabayan style," he said.

Citing the official website of the Surabaya Diocese, Wisaksono is the second child of three siblings and the only son of the couple, Oei Kok Tjia (Widiatmo Wisaksono) and Kwa Siok Nio (Mardijanti). Wisaksono was born with the name Oei Tik Hauw in Surabaya on September 26, 1953.

Wisaksono received his early, primary, and secondary education in "Heroic Earth," the nickname for Surabaya, at St. Anna Catholic Kindergarten, St. Michael Catholic Elementary School, and Angelus Custos Catholic Middle School. In his childhood, he was known as someone who would give in and help others. At one time, he gave his clothes to a friend whose clothes were damaged, causing him to go home without any clothes.

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KOMPAS/IGNATIUS DANU KUSWORO

Bishop of Surabaya Monsignor Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono (center) and several priests ascended the altar during Good Friday service at Surabaya Cathedral in East Java on Friday (04/10/2020). The service, which commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus, was broadcast live to the faithful through various networks so that Catholics could conduct the rite from the safety of their homes amid efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Wisaksono and his family received a Catholic baptism on May 7, 1966, when he was still in fourth grade of elementary school. Wisaksono chose the baptismal name Vincentius from Saint Vincentius a Paulo. After finishing junior high, Wisaksono continued his education at the St. Vincentius a Paulo or Seminari Garum Middle Seminary in Blitar.

In 1974, Wisaksono continued his studies at the Seminary of Saint Paul Kentungan, Yogyakarta. At that time, the Surabaya Diocese did not have an educational institution for diocesan priest candidates. In fact, during his leadership, the Surabaya Diocese had the Providentia Dei High Seminary in the Campus 3 complex (Pakuwon City) of the Widya Mandala Catholic University.

On January 21, 1982, Wisaksono received his diocesan priestly ordination from Bishop J Klooster CM, in Surabaya. He upholds two priestly mottos, one of which comes from Luke 10:3, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field," and the other from 1 Corinthians 9:8, "I am not doing this because of the wages I hope to receive; I am doing it because I must."

During his lifetime, Wisaksono once said that the motto meant that the struggle and hard work to become an imam should not involve any reward or wages, because being an imam is a noble mission.

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KOMPAS/AMBROSIUS HARTO MANUMOYOSO

A screenshot from the YouTube account of the Social Commission of Surabaya Diocese shows the atmosphere of the Good Friday worship at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (Cathedral) in Surabaya on Friday (2/4/2021). The worship was led by the Bishop of Surabaya, Monsignor (Mgr) Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono.

Wisaksono continued his postgraduate studies in psychology at De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines. Following his studies, since September 11, 1991, Wisaksono was entrusted to become the Rector of the San Giovanni XXIII Interdiocesan Seminary, Malang, as well as a consultant for the Surabaya Diocese.

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After a decade leading San Giovanni XXIII, Wisaksono returned to Manila for doctoral studies. During his study period, Mgr Yohanes Hadiwikarta, the Bishop of Surabaya at that time passed away or on 23 December 2004. The see of the Surabaya Diocese was vacant (sede vacante) until the announcement of Wisaksono's appointment as Bishop of Surabaya by Pope Benedict XVI on 1 April 2007.

Wisaksono received his episcopal ordination on June 29, 2007 at the Wijaya Kusuma Stadium, AAL Kodiklatal, Surabaya. Wisaksono takes the pastoral motto ut vitam abundantius habeant from John 10:10, one verse before the verse used as the pastoral motto by Hadiwikarta.

"As a native of Surabaya, his character is indeed straightforward, but that is the hallmark of good leadership for his people," said Karyadi.

Even though he is of Chinese descent, Wisaksono is known for his ban on holding special Chinese New Year Masses. Quoting from the book Redemtionis Sacramentum, Wisaksono said, it is not permissible to associate Mass with profane or worldly events that are not in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church, namely as a performance or other ceremony. Wisaksono is not anti-culture of his ancestors, but refuses to mix it up with liturgy. Chinese New Year can be celebrated as grandly as possible outside the church.

"As a native of Suroboyo, the character is indeed outspoken, but that is the mark of good shepherding leadership for his people." (Kanisius Karyadi)

Wisaksono also candidly admitted to being a bishop who pays close attention to financial matters, even being considered stingy. It was during his leadership that the financial issues of the Surabaya Diocese could be resolved and organized.

"Perhaps this is the benefit of having a Bishop from a lineage, they pay close attention to financial issues," said Wisaksono at a certain point in life.

Also read: Energy Revival of Ummah in Surabaya from Pandemic

KOMPAS/ANGGER PUTRANTO

Bishop of Surabaya, Mgr Vincetius Sutikno Wisaksono, gave blessings and hung a purple stole around Catholic high school student cadres in the Surabaya Diocese.

When commemorating the 13th anniversary of episcopal ordination, Monday (29/6/2020), during the Covid-19 pandemic, Wisaksono cut and enjoyed a red jeep tart resembling a 1982 Daihatsu Taft car parked in the garage of the diocese's guesthouse. The vehicle with the well-known nickname “Taft Kebo” is indeed klangenan or Wisaksono's favorite since he was a priest in Ngawi, served as rector, and continues to be used as a vehicle for daily operations.

"Strong, tough, durable," said Wisaksono at that time. That is the character expected to be the spirit of priests, clergy, and the people of the Surabaya Diocese."

Farewell, Father Bishop.