Almost as in a passing of the torch, the final days of the Jubilee of Hope gave way to the beginning of a new year marked by renewed trust and expectation. In this spirit, the Canossian Sisters in Jakarta experienced moments of deep communion, prayer and mission, inspired by the desire to renew their spiritual and pastoral journey.
Their path began with the Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope, during which aspirants, postulants, junior and senior Sisters set out together to visit four churches in the Indonesian capital: Saint Stephen in Cilandak, Saint Severinus in Kampong Sawah, Stella Maris in Pluit and Saint Bernadette in Pinang.
In each parish community, the Sisters were welcomed with warmth by lay pastoral groups who, as they themselves recounted, received them “as one welcomes Jesus Himself”. In an atmosphere filled with emotion and recollection, before the Marian grottoes of each church, the Sisters and the faithful gathered in prayer, preparing their hearts for the celebration of Christmas.
The new year opened under the sign of lived fraternity. Father Andreas Sutio and Father Antonius Sutatno invited the Canossian Sisters to take part in the evening Holy Mass and in a shared community dinner. This simple yet profound gesture strengthened their desire to remain ever more actively involved in parish life, where they already serve as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, in choirs, catechesis and neighbourhood pastoral groups.
A particularly significant moment was the Day of Young Missionaries, presided over by Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo. Like a ray of luminous hope, the celebration was marked by the presence of hundreds of children and young people from many parishes, together with a large group of Canossian Sisters.
During his homily, the Cardinal engaged in dialogue with the young participants, inviting them to reflect on the Gospel of the day and on the meaning of Jesus’ Baptism. It was a simple yet profound exchange, made especially moving by the sincere answers of some children, who recognised in the dove the symbol of purity and goodness of Jesus, the beloved Son of the Father. A concrete sign – as the Sisters later shared – that hope has truly been “born and is alive”.
This journey has left in the hearts of the Canossian Sisters a renewed desire to allow themselves to be “set ablaze in heart”, so as to reach everyone, especially the young, with creativity, energy and enthusiasm. Free to love and to serve without growing weary, they seek to keep alive the fire of mission, following in the footsteps of Saint Magdalene of Canossa.
