Summer Vacation and a Missionary Journey to Remember

Two Indonesian scholastics, Bros. Suparman Andi and Ignasius Sibar, had a wonderful summer vacation in Flores, Indonesia. They left Manila soon after their classes ended and spent some beautiful moments with their families, friends, and countrymen.  This vacation however is different from previous vacations. For aside from spending time with their loved ones, they also carried out a significant task for the future Camillian mission in Indonesia.

Part of this vacation was vocation campaign in the high schools to recruit some candidates for the Order. They recruited some good young men who will formally begin their Camillian formation in the postulancy stage. These young men will join the Camillians in August 2009 in Flores, Indonesia.

On May 1, they went to Maumere with Fr. Luigi Galvani who arrived from the Philippines. With the help of a long time Camillian friend and collaborator, Fr. Andreas Mua, SVD, they visited the owner of the house in Maumere which is available for rent.  After some discussions among them and with the owner of the house, they agreed on the condition and terms of rent for one year, beginning on July 1, 2009. This day is very significant because it is on this day, nine years ago, that the first batch of Indonesian Camillian aspirants left Flores for formation in the Philippines.

This house will be the place where the Camillians will lay their head. It will also serve as the first Camillian community in Indonesia and the postulancy house in August.

Together with Fr. Luigi, Andi and Ignas also met some priests, religious and lay persons who can be of help for the Camillians later on in Flores and Bali. They were very impressed with the Camillian charism and spirituality and they expressed sincere desire to collaborate with the Camillians.

Thus, this summer vacation was a memorable one; it was indeed a “missionary journey to remember” in the history of the Camillian mission in Indonesia.