4) 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 25, 2005
Monday, September 19, 2005.
This week the liturgical team is Father Pascal, Dharmawan and Valery. In the raining of the morning I went to CTU to attend class of Amos and remained there to study Presiding class and at 1 p.m. I attended the presiding class in which two of our classmates, one Vietnamese (Ti, scj) and one Chinese (Paul, svd) brought Moon cake and Jasmine Tea. The professor, Fragomeni was very happy for this hospitality. In the lectio divina of our community, Dharmawan guided us with the paper prepared by Father Victor as usual. I saw in the Xaverian mailbox at CTU a paper of transferred credit of Harno. I took a look on it and I compared with mine. He got 16 courses transferred on the checklist and I only have 10 and a half courses. Even though it’s quite different, I am still glad that I will finish my M.Div next year in May 2006 after studying theology at CTU for three years. It’s normal time (three years for M.Div in priesthood track) for Indonesian students at least I know from the experience of my friends at SVD (Benjamin, Sony and Francis), Petrus, sx and one of my classmates in the Driyarkara School of Theology Jakartat) who is CICM student from Indonesia studies at Oblate Mary Immaculate School of Theology because normally after we studied some theology subjects in Indonesia we can do transfer some subjects in the U.S.A. school of theologies. Even though in comparison with others I have the least of transferred credits, but I am still feeling glad that somehow I can finish this M.Div in three years. It could happen because I also took CPE class (immersion) last summer 2005 at Alexian Brothers Medical Center.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005.
In the morning I called up my youngest brother, Jimmy in Ponorogo, Indonesia who just married last Saturday. I talked to his wife, Jenny as well on the phone. Even though I could not witness their marriage but at least I have congratulated them via phone. They are looking forward my visit in Indonesia in June-August 2006, still 8 more months. My brother asked me prayer so that he will be a good husband and having a son or daughter soon. Of course I remember him and her spouse in my prayer and good wish. There’s one guest from India who stays with us. He’s the secretary of International Youth Christian Service (IYCS) who works in Paris, France. He’s Manoj Mathew, 27 years old. The whole morning till almost 2 p.m. I spent my time to read some 9 articles on the Internet for my class of Integrating core given by Dawn Notwehr (Social justice and peace issue). In the evening I attended the course of Dawn Notwehr from 7 p.m. to 9.45 p.m. I went to CTU by bike.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005.
In the morning I had class of Amos. In the afternoon I wrote/typed a letter of renewal of vows addressed to the provincial of U.S.A. province, Father Ivan Marchesin, sx, then I gave to my rector, Father Rocco in the afternoon. It is four pages paper. We are going to renew our vows (mission, poverty, obedience and chastity) on November 5.
Thursday, September 22, 2005.
I attended the class of Edmund Chia, about Dialogue and Inculturation. After the class I met the director of M.Div program, named Sister Barbara Bowe, RSCJ to know about the condition to graduate of M.Div next year especially regarding a course taken at other school of theology whether it is obligation or not. She is willing to meet me again with all my checklist and documents next Monday before noon. Actually, after finishing this semester, I still have two more courses (that would be taken at the last semester in Spring 2006) and one credit at January Term for capstone (a sort of seminar and reflection with 6 times class meetings). I asked to Nanko, the field director of CTU about the CPE meeting for next Friday, September 30, what I should bring for this CPE aftermath session (for those who have done the CPE last summer 2005). She answered just bring myself and some journal or paper I have done at the CPE program. O.K.!
In the afternoon I cooked garlic bread and fish already made from Franklin, Milwaukee for the community. In the community meeting Manoj Mathew, an Indian man gave us his experience to be a youth minister in YCS. He has been traveling in many countries including Indonesia, Sierra Leone and other parts of the world. The method of this movement is See-Judge-Act.
Friday, September 23, 2005.
In the morning I was typing my paper of Dialogue and Inculturation then I posted it at Moodle, the CTU website. The program of study at CTU always requires us to use the Internet more often since most of the paper work, reading assignment and communication among the classmates and the professor pretty much using this media. At 3 p.m. I met Father Ivan, the Xaverian provincial of U.S.A. in personal meeting for 35 minutes. At night I watched TV to see the Hurricane Rita that hit Gold Coast in Gulf Mexico, Galveston, Houston (Texas) and Louisiana.
Saturday, September 24, 2005.
At 7.30 a.m. we celebrated the morning prayer at the chapel with sitting on chairs then the Eucharistic Prayer at the mediation room sitting on the pillows. It is a new style created by the liturgical team this week. After the breakfast, Ignas and Valery took me to Saint Therese, Chinatown to help out some works there. There is a new organ brought by Ben, the maintenance man of the parish, Alberto and Marvin (an Indonesian man) for Saint Therese Church. We had lunch with them cooked by Father Michael. It is always heavy meal with many varieties. I was inspecting and accompanying the two 7th graders of Saint Therese School who worked cleaning the church. George, a nice fellow of Saint Therese, whose little son named Matthew, offers me to join him and Father Michael to attend a Chinese Catholic Convention that will be held in Boston from 10-13 November 2005. I would ask my formators first and see my timetable then soon I will reply to him. In the evening at 5 p.m. Father Michael invited us (Darlene, Ignatius and me) to attend Ramayana performance at the suburb, about 15 miles from Chinatown. The dance was collaboration of Thailand, Indian and Indonesian communities in Chicago. Thank you to Martino Tangkar, one of the Indonesian people who held this beautiful performance. He gave us the compliment tickets to see this 2.5 hours dance. At 10 p.m. we returned to Satin Therese and had dinner, the leftover of the lunch today. I remained stay at Saint Therese and went to bed at 11.15 p.m.
Sunday, September 25, 2005.
I woke up at 7 a.m. and took a shower at Saint Therese rectory. After having breakfast, I served as an acolyte at the Mass of 8 a.m. presided by Father Aniello. There were about 23 people coming to this Mass including Marvin. I talked to Marvin to be an alter server at the Masses of Saturday 5 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. that normally there’s none serving as altar servers. It seems that he is willing to serve next time and Father Aniello also agrees to welcome him. At 9.30 a.m. Mass once again I served as an acolyte with Father Michael as the presider. There were three altar servers: Alex, Kevin, and Kerry. This time I gave communion as well to the congregation. I remembered the video I have watched a couple of days ago about giving communion to the people of God. I see their eyes, bit smiling, and solemnly put the body of Christ on their palms, bit touching their hands reverently, plus saying ‘The Body of Christ’ clearly with a hope one will answer ‘Amen.’ After giving communion and returned the ciborium in the tabernacle, Father Michael asked me to go to the downstairs kitchen to put the oven on 350 degrees Fahrenheit. I did directly even though first time I got confused with his command, “350”, I thought he asked me to put host with the number 350 but afterward I knew that it’s all about the food at the kitchen. He cooked pasta and the dessert was durian-sticky rice and coconut milk. I experience now what Petrus had experienced in two different and fulfilling each other between taking care of the Eucharist at the Mass and the food for the lunch of the parishioners after the Mass. It’s really fun to serve both at the same time consecutively, alternating each other. It’s my pleasure to serve at the altar, giving communion as well as preparing food for others. It’s part of my ministry I have done last year at the retreat house, David Darst Center and my CPE program at Alexian Brothers Medical Center. My idea, if it is possible, I can come to Saint Therese during the weekend, so that I can help other things and know more about the parish work as I prepare myself toward deaconate service next year.
At 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. we as catechists had meeting with Father Michael at Saint Therese School. There were about 13 people coming to this meeting before next week we start the Sunday school, the CCD program and the confirmation program. I will take care of the confirmation program whose 6 children of 7th grade. I will accompany them with one Jesuit student, named Cesari. At 11 a.m. there was Mandarin Mass at the church. Father Ivan came to visit the community of Saint Therese. At 1.30 p.m. Father Michael met us (Valery and me) plus Father Ivan. Father Michael asked us about our commitment and schedule to do ministry at Saint Therese Chinatown. The ministry I have is teaching the confirmation children on Sundays, twice a month accompanying the children of Saint Therese School on every other Fridays, and to be an acolyte/ Eucharistic minister at the Mass on Sundays. I am willing also to help other things such as attending meeting and doing Interreligious Dialogue and Meditation prayer every Sunday at 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. led by Father Michael.
At 2 p.m. Valery and I went home by CTA while it’s raining. I could take a rest for a while after ironing my clothes then typing this journal. In the afternoon I practiced the confession rite or the sacrament of reconciliation. I acted as a confessor/priest and my confrere, Franco was the one who confessed. Tomorrow I have to play this role in my presiding class. Last week the professor, Father Fragomeni asked us to memorize the structure of this sacrament as well as the formula prayer of the absolution. I am glad that finally I could recite it in my remembrance as I practiced it with Francois.
Here is my sharing I wrote for my Dialogue and Inculturation paper:
Denny Wahyudi, SX
Inculturation & Dialogue (CD 4100-1)
Instructor: Edmund Chia
MY EXPERIENCE OF DIALOGUE AND INCULTURATION
My name is Denny Wahyudi, born and grew up in a little city called Madiun in East Java Province, Indonesia. Both of my parents are Chinese descendants who were born in Indonesia but they do not speak Chinese and even my grandmothers didn’t speak this ancestor heritage. Apparently my family is still keeping same Chinese descent marriage that is happened as well to my other four siblings. No wonder my skin and bodily features are depicting a Chinese man that makes different with other Indonesians who are called indigenous people. When I was kid often times I heard a sarcastic saying of those who are not Chinese descent in calling us as ‘Cino’ that has a negative perception in my ear. In the history Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch for three and a half centuries that made Indonesian people split in some social strata. The Dutch used a political policy to divide the Indonesian society known as ‘divide et impera’ means to divide the unity of people so that they could be controlled and to be weak fighting against the Dutch. The Chinese descendant was placed in the middle class that normally held the economical life of the society and the indigenous poor people were experiencing harmful treatment and injustice by the higher strata both the Dutch and the Chinese descents. It impacts a lot in the soul of the indigenous people until now. It is evident in the riot history in Indonesia when there is a riot or unrest the Chinese people became scapegoats of the mass. They destroyed and burned stores, malls, factories, and raped Chinese girls that happened sadistically in May 1998. A lot of Chinese people at that time flew running away to other countries including the U.S.A. Until now this latent situation is still exist in Indonesia. Not only to Chinese descendants the mass unrest attacks but also to non-Islam people such as Christians, Buddhism and Hinduism. There is always story of destruction of other religion buildings of worship. It seems there is enmity between the majority, that is the Muslim against other religions. Even though the government has ruled the equality of different religions but in fact the minority is always becoming a victim. Recently there are closing of some churches in West Java and Jakarta by some militant Muslim who forcibly forbade these other religions to worship in their own buildings. Of course it is not happened in whole areas in Indonesia but only in few areas where the fundamentalist Muslim have big influence. Most Indonesian Muslim people have tolerance toward other religions. I experienced it when I was in the Junior High School in which most of my close friends are Muslim and indigenous people. In this step of my life I experienced exceedingly the diversity milieu that I ever have. Most of my peer friends are Muslim and indigenous people and it shaped my perspective toward them. My parents have negative stereotype toward the Indigenous people but this teaching was not bothered me any longer since my own experience told me. It continued to my High School three years where most of my peer friends are Moslem and non-Chinese descents as well. To reflect on these experiences, I am grateful to have this diversity intermingling with others that gave me new mentality toward diversities in many ways of human beings. More and more I became open toward others and it happened as well in my experience working in Jakarta after graduated of High School. Most of my colleagues where I worked are Javanese people that I already had accustomed to deal with since in Junior High School. It helps me apparently in my religious life, the Xaverian Missionaries living together with my confreres who are from different tribes and backgrounds. Eventually, it enforces me to project my life as a missionary living in a different culture and across country and continent. I have been trained in diversity and accepted the otherness as they are that enriching my perspective to be a local human in a universal embracing mentality.
My experience in interreligious and intercultural dialogue was initiated in my early life when I was dealing with my environment and people surrounded me as I mentioned above. Even though my family has tendency to admire their own Chinese descendant culture but my perspective as a human being does not follow this step. As I grew and learned of others, I saw that it is not who or what that matters but how does one do and be is really matter. I cannot easily accept generalization toward others but I believe that every person has uniqueness no matter his/her heritage. My experience dealing with interreligious dialogue has been shaped gradually in my life in the Xaverian formations since in Indonesia. I had experience having ministry of Interreligious Dialogue when I was in the philosophy studies (college) in Jakarta. The most interesting one is when I lived in at a Buddhist (Theravada) temple in Mendut, Central Java. I was accepted so nicely by the president of Theravada Indonesia, Bhikku Pannavaro and the vice president, Bhikku Jotidhamo. They openly answered my questions and took me a tour knowing the temple that built at the same land of formerly known as ‘Mendut School’ for lay Catholic people in the past, early 1900’s. I stayed at this temple as a guest who wanted to know the Buddhist teaching for 6 days. I prayed morning and evening prayer with the ‘samaneras’ (the candidate of bhikku/Buddhist monks), practicing meditation and reciting the prayer that they call as chanting. Even I still remember one sentence in this chanting, “Namo Taso, Bhagavato, Arahato, Sama Sam Budhasa…”(Pali language). I learned that the life of this Buddhist celibacy is very strict, even more than the religious life I live out. It gives me insights and comparisons to both similar lifestyles that help me to put myself in better awareness. I was amazed and admired their denial of the world and their way in keeping balance in their body, mind, heart, spirit and harmony with the nature. All in all I am grateful to my formators who gave me opportunity to experience this precious direct interreligious dialogue that I never forget in my life. This experience was continued with my experience of dialogue with others in my Interreligious dialogue ministry in Jakarta for two years. Often times I visited Buddhist temples, Christian churches, Moslem students and other religions. Once I asked the agenda of Interreligious Dialogue in the Archdiocese of Jakarta and I met the one who is in charge of this office but unfortunately, he did not have special agenda on this area. I see in the parish level, there is no special agenda for this activity. My impression is the Catholic Church in the lower level are still dealing only with their own churches things without having brave initiative to deal with other religions. It is a challenge for me that I have to put into consideration when I will be working in Indonesia with the multi cultural and multi religions setting. I am glad that this Interreligious Dialogue is continued consecutively by the Xaverian students in Indonesia. Even they have made a lot of progress in this ministry. I wonder in my formation now in theology level almost near to the priesthood, we do not have special intention to this kind of ministry in interreligious dialogue. It is one of my reasons to come to Chicago to continue my experience in interreligious dialogue but until now I do not have one. Probably, I have to do it personally or when I will be working in a parish at Saint Therese, Chinatown Chicago as a deacon or pastoral year. I am glad that the pastor, Father Michael offers me to go to Buddhist temple as they invite him. I still have two more years in Chicago to finish my study and formation becoming a Xaverian missionary priest. It is a precious time that I believe I still have chance to experience more this idea I have since I was in Indonesia.
In terms of inculturation, I do not have any significant events in my life experience in Indonesia. I know there are some efforts in liturgical areas that have been done greatly by some Catholic parishes in Indonesia. I know there is a shrine in my diocese (Surabya, East Java Province) that has a custom to celebrate solemn Mass on a special day of the Javanese calendar using Javanese language. I never came to this shrine located in Kediri to join this celebration but I believe that it is one effort of the local church to make inculturation, putting local culture and belief in liturgical manners. One special Mass also I ever heard in diocese of Semarang, Indonesia. This Mass lasts four hours using Javanese cultures such as language, dances, dresses, and other things. Unfortunately, I have not experienced this event yet. In some other areas in Indonesia, the Mass is initiated with dance even the bishop who presides the Mass joins to dance with the congregation. In some parishes in Jakarta especially in Chinatown parish, there is New Year Mass that uses Chinese/Mandarin language. The government in the past prohibited all things that have connection to Chinese culture. Since the reformation 1998, the government and the Indonesian society have more and more opened to this culture. We can see some big events in Chinese New Year not only in the temples but also in public areas. It becomes part of social party in Jakarta especially in the area of Chinatown. Even some traditional dances from Jakarta/Betawi are influenced by the Chinese culture. In many ways the inculturation have happened in the Catholic Church in Indonesia. It can be done more and better with asking people of God to do more creatively. I think the church in Indonesia especially the Catholic Church has initiative and accommodative endeavors to promote this inculturation. Some liturgical songs in Indonesia are taken from many diverse cultural songs all over Indonesia and they have been done well by the liturgy team in national level. In terms of theology, spirituality, and mentality need to be explored and improved more because the Catholic Church in Indonesia, somehow are still in the control of foreigners ways. It can be seen easily when the pastor is a foreigner priest who has idealistic of Western minded that most of the time there is no sensitivity to embrace local culture. But, it all returns to the person to person of the priest, without generalizing the issue and origin.
In sum, dialogue and inculturation are two repeated words in the Catholic Church in Indonesia but in practical ways in the life of the congregation it seems that they still need to be done continuously with opening opportunity to the young people who have their own creativity and expectations. May these words not only formulated nicely in the church documents but can be applied in real and direct ways that can be seen and touched easily by the most people of God.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Sunday, September 18, 2005
3rd letter of September 2005
3) 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 18, 2005
Monday, September 12, 2005.
Today together with Father Victor and Harno, I am in charge of the liturgy for this week. In the morning I had class of Amos then I was at the library to read some magazines. At 1 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. I attended Presiding Class for the first time with Father Richard Fragomeni as the professor. There were 12 students that consists of 8 SVD’s. There were about 8 Vietnamese, one White American (OMI), one Holy Spiritans (Vietnamese), one SCJ (Vietnamese) and myself from Indonesia (Xaverians). Two of us from China (SVD’s). Fragomeni gave us the syllabus of this course that emphasized on the Eucharistic presiding, confession, initiation, funeral, wedding and some other group work. According to the syllabus, I have to make two videotapes of the Eucharistic/Mass (one on weekday and the other one on Sunday). About confession, I have to meet three persons in the faculty or my formator at the Xaverians to practice this sacrament in which I am acting as a priest, the confessor and they as the ones who confess to me.
In the afternoon, Father Victor guided us in the lectio divina of our Xaverian community.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005.
In the morning Mass there was one Holy Spiritan priest from Ghana who visited us here in Chicago. He’s Daniel. After having breakfast, by CTA bus and train I went to Saint Therese Chinatown to meet Father Michael for spiritual direction (colloquium). I met Father Aniello who just arrived yesterday from Medjugorje. Before noon I went to the public library at downtown to borrow some tapes and DVD’s (courses in Mandarin, Japanese and Italian languages). Directly after supper, I went to the CTU library to borrow some books for my presiding class then I attended the class of Dawn Notwehr on Social Justice and Peace (an Integrating Core course). Coming back from CTU, I got a note that the mother of my friend in Philadelphia passed away in Indonesia. My condolences to Tatiana in Philadelphia for her mother who has returned to God. I keep her and the family in my prayer.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005.
In the morning when the Mass was almost started, Harno was sick desperately. His fever was coming again. Directly Father Rocco took him to Mercy Hospital. He remained stay at the hospital till Saturday morning. He was diagnosed by the doctors having Malaria. I attended the class of Amos in the morning at 8.30 to 9.45. At the CTU library I borrowed some videotapes and watched them at home. One of them is entitled “What is priest?” In the evening together with Alejandro, Ignas and Wawan, I went to visit Harno at the hospital.
Thursday, September 15, 2005.
In the morning I attended the class of Inculturation given by Bob Schreiter while the professor of this class was not coming. He’s Edmund Chia. After I prepared Pizza for the supper, I went to CTU to attend a seminar about 40 years of the Second Vatican Council named Nostra Aetate. There were four speakers, namely, Don Senior, John Pawlikowski, Scot Alexander and Rabi Sandmel. While I was watching a video about liturgy, I got a phone call from my friend in New York, named Theresia Ken-ken. With Dharmawan, I watched the videotape entitled Color Purple until midnight.
Friday, September 16, 2005.
We had Mass at 7.30 a.m. and community retreat led by Father Pascal. The topic was about the formation of International Theology in the Xaverians. We reflected and discussed the Vade Mecum of this regard. It lasted at 12.45 p.m. After having lunch, we (the 7 students) went to Franklin, Milwaukee by two cars to attend the meeting of Xaverian festival volunteer gathering. We went back to Chicago at 9 p.m. except Ignatius who stayed there till Sunday afternoon. We brought a lot of bread, tomatoes and two computer monitors from Franklin. At night Father Rocco returned home from the meeting at Baltimore, Maryland.
Saturday, September 17, 2005.
Today my youngest brother named Jimmy is getting married in Kediri. He’s 23 years old and his wife named Yenny, 19 years old. They married at Bethany Church in Kediri, East Java. My other brother, Rony married in 2003 when I had been in the U.S.A. So, both of my brothers I couldn’t attend their weddings. I am not really sad because it’s the reality that I am being far away of my family in distance but in heart I always close to them. I keep in touch with them through phone so that I know their up-to-date news. What I can do just pray and remember them in my prayer and call them up routinely as my concern of them.
After having breakfast, together with Father Rocco and Valery, I went to Frankfort, Illinois to attend a meeting with Saint Therese parishioners to plan the parish activities for 2005-2006. There were about 35 people coming to this meeting. They depicted multi ethnics in this church, namely, Italian-Americans, Mandarin speaking parishioners, Cantonese speaking parishioners, Indonesian, the Philippines, and Latinos. One of the Indonesian Catholic leaders in Chicago, named The Mulianto came to this meeting. The meeting started at 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. We went home and I took a rest for a while. At 5 p.m. I followed Father Rocco to go to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church at 35th Street to attend the Mass at 5.30 p.m. presided by Father Rocco. We went home after the Mass finished. With Valery, I made tomatoes juice at night because we have a lot of tomatoes given by Father Dominic in Franklin, Milwaukee. I like very much this tomatoes juice. At night I got a phone call from my good friend in New York City, named Frans Slamet.
Sunday, September 18, 2005.
I woke up at 7 a.m., took shower and prayed the breviary personally at my room. At 8.20 a.m. together with Valery, I went to Saint Therese church to attend the Mass at 9.30 a.m. in which Father Michael presided. I helped him to warm up the food for the parishioners after the Mass. The ministry I have in the confirmation program doesn’t start yet. Next week we are going to have meeting with all catechists at this parish coordinated by Darlene Chan. Father Michael asked me to accompany him at the 9.30 a.m. Mass starting next week to be an acolyte exercising my ministry to share the Body of Christ in the Mass. It is also an initial ministry for me toward deaconate year that hopefully happens next year in order to know and to be known by church of this parish. George, one of the nice fellows at this parish took us home. He took me to the public library returning videotapes I borrowed and we went back to Hyde Park. I took a rest for a while and at 4 p.m. I helped Father Victor to cook for the supper. At 7 p.m. we had the evening prayer and sharing continued by supper. I called up my youngest brother in Ponorogo to congratulate his wedding that was held last Saturday. I asked my oldest sister to send my youngest brother, Jimmy’s wedding. They are going to have party probably in December 2005.
Monday, September 12, 2005.
Today together with Father Victor and Harno, I am in charge of the liturgy for this week. In the morning I had class of Amos then I was at the library to read some magazines. At 1 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. I attended Presiding Class for the first time with Father Richard Fragomeni as the professor. There were 12 students that consists of 8 SVD’s. There were about 8 Vietnamese, one White American (OMI), one Holy Spiritans (Vietnamese), one SCJ (Vietnamese) and myself from Indonesia (Xaverians). Two of us from China (SVD’s). Fragomeni gave us the syllabus of this course that emphasized on the Eucharistic presiding, confession, initiation, funeral, wedding and some other group work. According to the syllabus, I have to make two videotapes of the Eucharistic/Mass (one on weekday and the other one on Sunday). About confession, I have to meet three persons in the faculty or my formator at the Xaverians to practice this sacrament in which I am acting as a priest, the confessor and they as the ones who confess to me.
In the afternoon, Father Victor guided us in the lectio divina of our Xaverian community.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005.
In the morning Mass there was one Holy Spiritan priest from Ghana who visited us here in Chicago. He’s Daniel. After having breakfast, by CTA bus and train I went to Saint Therese Chinatown to meet Father Michael for spiritual direction (colloquium). I met Father Aniello who just arrived yesterday from Medjugorje. Before noon I went to the public library at downtown to borrow some tapes and DVD’s (courses in Mandarin, Japanese and Italian languages). Directly after supper, I went to the CTU library to borrow some books for my presiding class then I attended the class of Dawn Notwehr on Social Justice and Peace (an Integrating Core course). Coming back from CTU, I got a note that the mother of my friend in Philadelphia passed away in Indonesia. My condolences to Tatiana in Philadelphia for her mother who has returned to God. I keep her and the family in my prayer.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005.
In the morning when the Mass was almost started, Harno was sick desperately. His fever was coming again. Directly Father Rocco took him to Mercy Hospital. He remained stay at the hospital till Saturday morning. He was diagnosed by the doctors having Malaria. I attended the class of Amos in the morning at 8.30 to 9.45. At the CTU library I borrowed some videotapes and watched them at home. One of them is entitled “What is priest?” In the evening together with Alejandro, Ignas and Wawan, I went to visit Harno at the hospital.
Thursday, September 15, 2005.
In the morning I attended the class of Inculturation given by Bob Schreiter while the professor of this class was not coming. He’s Edmund Chia. After I prepared Pizza for the supper, I went to CTU to attend a seminar about 40 years of the Second Vatican Council named Nostra Aetate. There were four speakers, namely, Don Senior, John Pawlikowski, Scot Alexander and Rabi Sandmel. While I was watching a video about liturgy, I got a phone call from my friend in New York, named Theresia Ken-ken. With Dharmawan, I watched the videotape entitled Color Purple until midnight.
Friday, September 16, 2005.
We had Mass at 7.30 a.m. and community retreat led by Father Pascal. The topic was about the formation of International Theology in the Xaverians. We reflected and discussed the Vade Mecum of this regard. It lasted at 12.45 p.m. After having lunch, we (the 7 students) went to Franklin, Milwaukee by two cars to attend the meeting of Xaverian festival volunteer gathering. We went back to Chicago at 9 p.m. except Ignatius who stayed there till Sunday afternoon. We brought a lot of bread, tomatoes and two computer monitors from Franklin. At night Father Rocco returned home from the meeting at Baltimore, Maryland.
Saturday, September 17, 2005.
Today my youngest brother named Jimmy is getting married in Kediri. He’s 23 years old and his wife named Yenny, 19 years old. They married at Bethany Church in Kediri, East Java. My other brother, Rony married in 2003 when I had been in the U.S.A. So, both of my brothers I couldn’t attend their weddings. I am not really sad because it’s the reality that I am being far away of my family in distance but in heart I always close to them. I keep in touch with them through phone so that I know their up-to-date news. What I can do just pray and remember them in my prayer and call them up routinely as my concern of them.
After having breakfast, together with Father Rocco and Valery, I went to Frankfort, Illinois to attend a meeting with Saint Therese parishioners to plan the parish activities for 2005-2006. There were about 35 people coming to this meeting. They depicted multi ethnics in this church, namely, Italian-Americans, Mandarin speaking parishioners, Cantonese speaking parishioners, Indonesian, the Philippines, and Latinos. One of the Indonesian Catholic leaders in Chicago, named The Mulianto came to this meeting. The meeting started at 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. We went home and I took a rest for a while. At 5 p.m. I followed Father Rocco to go to Our Lady of Good Counsel Church at 35th Street to attend the Mass at 5.30 p.m. presided by Father Rocco. We went home after the Mass finished. With Valery, I made tomatoes juice at night because we have a lot of tomatoes given by Father Dominic in Franklin, Milwaukee. I like very much this tomatoes juice. At night I got a phone call from my good friend in New York City, named Frans Slamet.
Sunday, September 18, 2005.
I woke up at 7 a.m., took shower and prayed the breviary personally at my room. At 8.20 a.m. together with Valery, I went to Saint Therese church to attend the Mass at 9.30 a.m. in which Father Michael presided. I helped him to warm up the food for the parishioners after the Mass. The ministry I have in the confirmation program doesn’t start yet. Next week we are going to have meeting with all catechists at this parish coordinated by Darlene Chan. Father Michael asked me to accompany him at the 9.30 a.m. Mass starting next week to be an acolyte exercising my ministry to share the Body of Christ in the Mass. It is also an initial ministry for me toward deaconate year that hopefully happens next year in order to know and to be known by church of this parish. George, one of the nice fellows at this parish took us home. He took me to the public library returning videotapes I borrowed and we went back to Hyde Park. I took a rest for a while and at 4 p.m. I helped Father Victor to cook for the supper. At 7 p.m. we had the evening prayer and sharing continued by supper. I called up my youngest brother in Ponorogo to congratulate his wedding that was held last Saturday. I asked my oldest sister to send my youngest brother, Jimmy’s wedding. They are going to have party probably in December 2005.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
2nd letter of September 2005
2) 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 11, 2005
Monday, September 05, 2005.
Today is the Labor Day, the national holiday in the USA. I did watch some videocassettes I borrowed from the public library. In the evening, as community we went to OMI theology house, close to LSTC to attend the birthday celebration of Helacio, one of the five OMI students there. We had a good time in prayer, conversation, friendship, supper, dance, and singing until around 9 p.m. There were some guests from the Combonians, the Claretians, the Xaverians and one SCJ student (Octavio). At night I checked at Amazon.com on the Internet some books I need for the courses I have this Fall Semester.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005.
Today is the official day of the Fall Semester at CTU (Catholic Theological Union) where I study for the third year and at the same time in the evening, Jacques Bahati (a Congolese, Africa), one of the Xaverian students, left the community and still lives in Chicago to finish his study at CTU. So, this academic year (2005-2006) in our Xaverian theology house in Hyde Park, Chicago, we have 3 priests as formator (Rocco, Pascal and Victor) and 8 students (Alejandro from Mexico, and 4 Indonesians: myself-Denny, Ignas, Dharmawan and Harno, one from R.D. Congo: Pascal Atumisi and two Cameroonians: Valery and Francois). We’re 11 people altogether. In the evening after supper, I went to CTU to attend my first class of EMP (Integrating core) taught by Dawn Notwehr, OSF. There were about 18 students at this class. At 9.30 p.m. I went home together with Harno and Valery who have other class at the same time.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005.
In the morning at 8.30 a.m. I attended the class of James Okoye, a Holy Spiritan priest from Nigeria. This class is about Prophet and Amos. At the same class there are three other Xaverian students: Alejandro, Dharmawan and Harno. There’re about 11 students at this class. At 10 a.m. I went to CTS (Chicago Theological School) at 58th street to visit and ask one course of Ethic. It’s an old building and seminary that was built in the late 1800’s. From CTU I borrowed some seven videocassettes and watched them at the house. At the third floor, I found a thin book entitled Vade Mecum of the Xaverians that was written in Parma, August 1985 and I saw some rule about the perpetual vows and ministry ordinations both deaconate and priesthood. At least I know little bit about the rule of these final steps in my formation that I need to discuss with my formators in near time. I feel the time is so quick and short to end my formation in Chicago, particularly after this year, 2005 near to end. Less than two years I will finish all of my theology studies, even my M.Div is going to finish in May 18, 2005. This old archive book written in Italian, I read and pondered to know curiously about the rule especially in the perpetual vows and deaconate ordination that I am thinking seriously in the beginning of this academic year.
Thursday, September 08, 2005.
In the morning class at 8.30, Edmund Chia teaches one of Integrating Cores entitled Dialogue and Inculturation. There were about 28 students at this class and he asked me to help him to register some students who want to buy his book about Dialogue. Chia is a former Christian Brothers from Malaysia who has worldwide experience in Interreligious Dialogue. I took his class last year for my MA study, namely, Interreligious Dialogue in Asia. After the class ended at 11.15 a.m., I went up to the library at the third floor to read some magazines. In the afternoon, I cooked for the community. In the Holy Hour (Adoration), Father Rocco gave us the letter of Pope Benedict XVI for the seminarians when he visited Germany last month. We had community meeting at 7.15 p.m. till 9.40 p.m. to finish the discussion of our community project of life and we did finish it. Thanks be to God. We rely on the Good Spirit that accompanies us during this year to put into practice what we have discussed and decided in the last two weeks in our theology community in Hyde Park, Chicago.
Friday, September 09, 2005.
In the morning at 8.30 I went to the public library at downtown Chicago to return the videocassettes and DVD’s I borrowed last week and I took some other 6 tapes and DVD’s. I took CTA bus number 2 just in front of our house in Hyde Park and I stopped right in front of the public library. I went up at the 7th floor to see the language lab that provides a lot of media to learn some other languages. I was interested to learn some of them. Next time I am going to borrow some videocassettes of Italian language course, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish. Even I found some media for English as second language. It’s going to be tool for my personal study this semester and this academic year, I suppose. After coming home at 1 p.m. I watched some of the media I took from the library. In the afternoon, Valery and Ignas came back from shopping. They are the ones who in charge of shopping for our community this academic year.
Saturday, September 10, 2005.
As community, at 8.20 a.m. we went to Adoration and Mass at Saint Frances of Rome Church in which Cardinal Francis George, the archbishop of Chicago presided the Mass and ended the year of the Eucharist. In the middle of the adoration, Harno got sick then Alejandro and Dharmawan took him home. He was brought at Mercy Hospital and at night he returned home. He got terrible fever that was ups and downs during the last four days. Thanks God that he came back home and seemed better this night. In the afternoon, I prepared food for the supper in the community. I just warmed up Lasagna and made garlic bread.
At night I called up some of my family who don’t know about my youngest brother who is going to marry next Saturday, September 17. Since he doesn’t have big party, so he doesn’t invite other extended family. Even my second sister who lives in other city doesn’t know that he’s going to marry next Saturday. In this case, I have known more than others who live in the same country, Indonesia. This is my concern that I always keep in touch with them personally and routinely, so they always wonder that I know more and faster than others. It’s all because of the easiness and cheapness of the media in the USA in telecommunication system. I don’t know if I consider myself as a good messenger who spread the good news among my families that seem don’t get along with so often even though they live in the same island, Java in Indonesia. Probably, I learned of my grandmother (the mother of my father) who always liked to visit her sons, daughters and other extended family.
Sunday, September 11, 2005.
It’s the fourth year of the tragedy called the September Eleventh that happened in New York City. I woke up at 6.40 a.m., took shower then prayed the breviary personally in my room. After checking my e-mail and having breakfast, Ignas and I went to Saint Therese Church in Chinatown. There we helped out Father Michael to prepare fruits for the parishioners. We had conversation with Father Daniel, a young Holy Spiritan priest from Ghana at the rectory. At 11.15 a.m. I attended the Indonesian Mass at Saint Therese School. It’s presided by Father Sony, SVD. There were about 35 attendants at this monthly Mass. Since there’s celebration at Saint Therese Church for the Italian community to honor the birth of Mary, our Mother, so we, the Indonesian community had Mass at the school. Father Sony gave me a ride to come back home at Hyde Park. He’s going to finish his thesis soon and probably leaves the USA in the middle of October 2005. After taking a nap in the afternoon, I went to CTU to attend the Holy Spirit Mass, the opening Mass of CTU in the beginning of this academic year, 2005-2006. It was presided by the president of CTU, Father Donald Senior, CP. The collection of the Mass is given to Catholic Charity for the aid of Hurricane Catrina’s victims in New Orleans and other places that happened at the end of August. The Mass was very good as usual with the multicultural features in many ways. I read one of the intercession prayers in Indonesian language. After having supper cooked by Father Rocco, I typed this journal at my room.
One reflection that comes to my mind during this week is about the vocation to religious life in the USA especially for the religious priesthood. In my conversation with some people during this week and see the real fact regards the members of the religious communities I know in the USA, I come to a tentative conclusion that young people in the USA don’t have interest anymore to religious life and priesthood. The majority of students or seminarians who study at CTU are those young people relatively coming from other countries and continents such as Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Even in Maryknoll Fathers who was founded in the USA in nowadays they only have five theology students in Chicago. The Holy Spiritans only have five students, the OMI also only have five theology students this year. Most of them are not born in the USA. Most of them are not White Americans. The SVD’s have a lot of students about 50 in number and most of them are Vietnamese descendants. There are only two Vietnamese descendants who were born in the USA and the rest they are born in Vietnam. In my conversation with some of them, it seems that most of the religious congregations are still hoping to get vocation from the White/Caucasian Americans. I notice that the congregations which only prioritize the vocation to this race will not get many vocation and needles to say they have zero vocation. Just check what happen to the Vincentians, the SCJ’s and others in the USA. In the past they had a lot of Caucasians but not these days. But, some congregations who openly receive other races such as Vietnamese, Latinos, and other races, they still have many vocations. One of the SVD’s told me if there are no Vietnamese students, most likely they have very few students in Chicago. In the near future, there is going to be shortcoming vocations of the SVD from the Vietnamese descendants and now there are about 12 SVD students from Sudan, African who learned English in Europe then would come to the USA to study theology. My question is why the small congregations don’t learn of other big congregations, even the congregations that were originally founded in the USA? Almost all of them have lack of vocation. If the small religious congregations still have hopes to recruit Caucasian young Americans, do they learn of other big congregations who have major vocation is from other races? If the small congregations always try their best to get vocation but they never get it, what kind of hope they still have realistically? Do they learn of others in some ways? If there’s no hope, why they still work continuously as vocation directors? If they have been working many years and there is still none coming to join their religious community, are they aware that they are just wasting of their time and money? Why they don’t come to the source of vocations that most likely can be found easily in the other countries such as the ‘third world’ ones right now? I wonder to see how the SCJ’s recruit vocation in Colombia and other countries then bravely bring some young people to the USA. Even some dioceses in the USA they have gut and money to bring young people from other countries to become their diocesan priests. In nowadays, if there are men who want to join the religious life, most of them are almost to be senior citizens in a way cynically one comments that they want to prepare their way to go to heaven. They are interested in the religious life and priesthood after having experience in some professions and perhaps after having experience in marriage life that eventually lost one’s spouse or have been granted the annulment. I see one congregation such as the Claretians and the other one is the Alexian Brothers have accepted some elderly men in their community. I see they are in the 50’s years old. I wonder if some congregations still stick on the limited young ages (up to 35 years old) when they recruit vocations. Do they learn of the other nun and brother congregations and diocesan seminaries especially the second carrier life?
Finally, I put my enthusiastic and clear hope on the vocation life in the Xaverian Missionaries in Indonesia as I heard there was a renewal of vows of the philosophy students whose 19 in number on Sunday, September 11, 2005. Blithely, I write this good news to be shared to others that in Indonesia, the work of vocation animation still fruitfully growing to harvest abundantly. Congratulation to you all, the 19 younger confreres in Jakarta who are walking day-by-day in your kairos life toward missionary-religious-priesthood in our beloved congregations, the Xaverians. I put realistically my hope of vocation of the Xaverians in the future to all of you as you continue your journey tomorrow and so on in your whole lives.
Monday, September 05, 2005.
Today is the Labor Day, the national holiday in the USA. I did watch some videocassettes I borrowed from the public library. In the evening, as community we went to OMI theology house, close to LSTC to attend the birthday celebration of Helacio, one of the five OMI students there. We had a good time in prayer, conversation, friendship, supper, dance, and singing until around 9 p.m. There were some guests from the Combonians, the Claretians, the Xaverians and one SCJ student (Octavio). At night I checked at Amazon.com on the Internet some books I need for the courses I have this Fall Semester.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005.
Today is the official day of the Fall Semester at CTU (Catholic Theological Union) where I study for the third year and at the same time in the evening, Jacques Bahati (a Congolese, Africa), one of the Xaverian students, left the community and still lives in Chicago to finish his study at CTU. So, this academic year (2005-2006) in our Xaverian theology house in Hyde Park, Chicago, we have 3 priests as formator (Rocco, Pascal and Victor) and 8 students (Alejandro from Mexico, and 4 Indonesians: myself-Denny, Ignas, Dharmawan and Harno, one from R.D. Congo: Pascal Atumisi and two Cameroonians: Valery and Francois). We’re 11 people altogether. In the evening after supper, I went to CTU to attend my first class of EMP (Integrating core) taught by Dawn Notwehr, OSF. There were about 18 students at this class. At 9.30 p.m. I went home together with Harno and Valery who have other class at the same time.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005.
In the morning at 8.30 a.m. I attended the class of James Okoye, a Holy Spiritan priest from Nigeria. This class is about Prophet and Amos. At the same class there are three other Xaverian students: Alejandro, Dharmawan and Harno. There’re about 11 students at this class. At 10 a.m. I went to CTS (Chicago Theological School) at 58th street to visit and ask one course of Ethic. It’s an old building and seminary that was built in the late 1800’s. From CTU I borrowed some seven videocassettes and watched them at the house. At the third floor, I found a thin book entitled Vade Mecum of the Xaverians that was written in Parma, August 1985 and I saw some rule about the perpetual vows and ministry ordinations both deaconate and priesthood. At least I know little bit about the rule of these final steps in my formation that I need to discuss with my formators in near time. I feel the time is so quick and short to end my formation in Chicago, particularly after this year, 2005 near to end. Less than two years I will finish all of my theology studies, even my M.Div is going to finish in May 18, 2005. This old archive book written in Italian, I read and pondered to know curiously about the rule especially in the perpetual vows and deaconate ordination that I am thinking seriously in the beginning of this academic year.
Thursday, September 08, 2005.
In the morning class at 8.30, Edmund Chia teaches one of Integrating Cores entitled Dialogue and Inculturation. There were about 28 students at this class and he asked me to help him to register some students who want to buy his book about Dialogue. Chia is a former Christian Brothers from Malaysia who has worldwide experience in Interreligious Dialogue. I took his class last year for my MA study, namely, Interreligious Dialogue in Asia. After the class ended at 11.15 a.m., I went up to the library at the third floor to read some magazines. In the afternoon, I cooked for the community. In the Holy Hour (Adoration), Father Rocco gave us the letter of Pope Benedict XVI for the seminarians when he visited Germany last month. We had community meeting at 7.15 p.m. till 9.40 p.m. to finish the discussion of our community project of life and we did finish it. Thanks be to God. We rely on the Good Spirit that accompanies us during this year to put into practice what we have discussed and decided in the last two weeks in our theology community in Hyde Park, Chicago.
Friday, September 09, 2005.
In the morning at 8.30 I went to the public library at downtown Chicago to return the videocassettes and DVD’s I borrowed last week and I took some other 6 tapes and DVD’s. I took CTA bus number 2 just in front of our house in Hyde Park and I stopped right in front of the public library. I went up at the 7th floor to see the language lab that provides a lot of media to learn some other languages. I was interested to learn some of them. Next time I am going to borrow some videocassettes of Italian language course, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish. Even I found some media for English as second language. It’s going to be tool for my personal study this semester and this academic year, I suppose. After coming home at 1 p.m. I watched some of the media I took from the library. In the afternoon, Valery and Ignas came back from shopping. They are the ones who in charge of shopping for our community this academic year.
Saturday, September 10, 2005.
As community, at 8.20 a.m. we went to Adoration and Mass at Saint Frances of Rome Church in which Cardinal Francis George, the archbishop of Chicago presided the Mass and ended the year of the Eucharist. In the middle of the adoration, Harno got sick then Alejandro and Dharmawan took him home. He was brought at Mercy Hospital and at night he returned home. He got terrible fever that was ups and downs during the last four days. Thanks God that he came back home and seemed better this night. In the afternoon, I prepared food for the supper in the community. I just warmed up Lasagna and made garlic bread.
At night I called up some of my family who don’t know about my youngest brother who is going to marry next Saturday, September 17. Since he doesn’t have big party, so he doesn’t invite other extended family. Even my second sister who lives in other city doesn’t know that he’s going to marry next Saturday. In this case, I have known more than others who live in the same country, Indonesia. This is my concern that I always keep in touch with them personally and routinely, so they always wonder that I know more and faster than others. It’s all because of the easiness and cheapness of the media in the USA in telecommunication system. I don’t know if I consider myself as a good messenger who spread the good news among my families that seem don’t get along with so often even though they live in the same island, Java in Indonesia. Probably, I learned of my grandmother (the mother of my father) who always liked to visit her sons, daughters and other extended family.
Sunday, September 11, 2005.
It’s the fourth year of the tragedy called the September Eleventh that happened in New York City. I woke up at 6.40 a.m., took shower then prayed the breviary personally in my room. After checking my e-mail and having breakfast, Ignas and I went to Saint Therese Church in Chinatown. There we helped out Father Michael to prepare fruits for the parishioners. We had conversation with Father Daniel, a young Holy Spiritan priest from Ghana at the rectory. At 11.15 a.m. I attended the Indonesian Mass at Saint Therese School. It’s presided by Father Sony, SVD. There were about 35 attendants at this monthly Mass. Since there’s celebration at Saint Therese Church for the Italian community to honor the birth of Mary, our Mother, so we, the Indonesian community had Mass at the school. Father Sony gave me a ride to come back home at Hyde Park. He’s going to finish his thesis soon and probably leaves the USA in the middle of October 2005. After taking a nap in the afternoon, I went to CTU to attend the Holy Spirit Mass, the opening Mass of CTU in the beginning of this academic year, 2005-2006. It was presided by the president of CTU, Father Donald Senior, CP. The collection of the Mass is given to Catholic Charity for the aid of Hurricane Catrina’s victims in New Orleans and other places that happened at the end of August. The Mass was very good as usual with the multicultural features in many ways. I read one of the intercession prayers in Indonesian language. After having supper cooked by Father Rocco, I typed this journal at my room.
One reflection that comes to my mind during this week is about the vocation to religious life in the USA especially for the religious priesthood. In my conversation with some people during this week and see the real fact regards the members of the religious communities I know in the USA, I come to a tentative conclusion that young people in the USA don’t have interest anymore to religious life and priesthood. The majority of students or seminarians who study at CTU are those young people relatively coming from other countries and continents such as Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Even in Maryknoll Fathers who was founded in the USA in nowadays they only have five theology students in Chicago. The Holy Spiritans only have five students, the OMI also only have five theology students this year. Most of them are not born in the USA. Most of them are not White Americans. The SVD’s have a lot of students about 50 in number and most of them are Vietnamese descendants. There are only two Vietnamese descendants who were born in the USA and the rest they are born in Vietnam. In my conversation with some of them, it seems that most of the religious congregations are still hoping to get vocation from the White/Caucasian Americans. I notice that the congregations which only prioritize the vocation to this race will not get many vocation and needles to say they have zero vocation. Just check what happen to the Vincentians, the SCJ’s and others in the USA. In the past they had a lot of Caucasians but not these days. But, some congregations who openly receive other races such as Vietnamese, Latinos, and other races, they still have many vocations. One of the SVD’s told me if there are no Vietnamese students, most likely they have very few students in Chicago. In the near future, there is going to be shortcoming vocations of the SVD from the Vietnamese descendants and now there are about 12 SVD students from Sudan, African who learned English in Europe then would come to the USA to study theology. My question is why the small congregations don’t learn of other big congregations, even the congregations that were originally founded in the USA? Almost all of them have lack of vocation. If the small religious congregations still have hopes to recruit Caucasian young Americans, do they learn of other big congregations who have major vocation is from other races? If the small congregations always try their best to get vocation but they never get it, what kind of hope they still have realistically? Do they learn of others in some ways? If there’s no hope, why they still work continuously as vocation directors? If they have been working many years and there is still none coming to join their religious community, are they aware that they are just wasting of their time and money? Why they don’t come to the source of vocations that most likely can be found easily in the other countries such as the ‘third world’ ones right now? I wonder to see how the SCJ’s recruit vocation in Colombia and other countries then bravely bring some young people to the USA. Even some dioceses in the USA they have gut and money to bring young people from other countries to become their diocesan priests. In nowadays, if there are men who want to join the religious life, most of them are almost to be senior citizens in a way cynically one comments that they want to prepare their way to go to heaven. They are interested in the religious life and priesthood after having experience in some professions and perhaps after having experience in marriage life that eventually lost one’s spouse or have been granted the annulment. I see one congregation such as the Claretians and the other one is the Alexian Brothers have accepted some elderly men in their community. I see they are in the 50’s years old. I wonder if some congregations still stick on the limited young ages (up to 35 years old) when they recruit vocations. Do they learn of the other nun and brother congregations and diocesan seminaries especially the second carrier life?
Finally, I put my enthusiastic and clear hope on the vocation life in the Xaverian Missionaries in Indonesia as I heard there was a renewal of vows of the philosophy students whose 19 in number on Sunday, September 11, 2005. Blithely, I write this good news to be shared to others that in Indonesia, the work of vocation animation still fruitfully growing to harvest abundantly. Congratulation to you all, the 19 younger confreres in Jakarta who are walking day-by-day in your kairos life toward missionary-religious-priesthood in our beloved congregations, the Xaverians. I put realistically my hope of vocation of the Xaverians in the future to all of you as you continue your journey tomorrow and so on in your whole lives.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
1st letter of September 2005
1) 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 04, 2005
Monday, August 29, 2005.
I went to CTU to borrow some videocassettes and read some magazines at the CTU library. Since it was still on vacation, there’s nobody in the reading room. In the evening after supper from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. we had community meeting to plan our community project of life.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005.
In the morning I went to LSTC bookstore to check the books required by my courses this Fall semester. I checked those books in our library and I got some books then I checked on-line CTU library in which I got some books and I borrowed them directly by going to CTU. There are some books I couldn’t find both in the Xaverian library and CTU library, so I have to buy them at LSTC or maybe I will compare their prices with the Amazon.com. I borrowed some fifteen books from CTU library including Pastores Dabo Vobis and Instrumentum Laboris that are required by the Vatican visit next December 2005 and March 2006 especially for the priesthood formation.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005.
Three new Xaverian theology students, namely Harno, Valery and Francois today have orientation at CTU. I went to Saint Peter Church in downtown Chicago to have reconciliation then I went to public library to borrow five videocassettes and DVD’s. I have been having the public library card since two years ago but I never borrowed anything. I think I am influenced by an Alexian Brother, named Ronald who likes to borrow videocassettes at public library, so it intrigued me to do so. Two years ago I knew that there is a room to borrow this popular library staffs but I was not interested to come again. I have new spirit to know more about some interesting topic such as spirituality and other religious film that I can borrow from this library. Hopefully, this will be my personal learning and take advantage of the facility of the U.S. library. Normally, I can borrow 6 videocassettes or DVD’s and bring them home for only 7 days.
I went to Saint Therese, Chinatown and after 20 minutes chatting with Father Aniello, the bell was rung and there’s Father Michael Davitti who just came back from his vacation in Italy. Welcome back to Chicago (Ben tornato tra noi, Padre). I spent some time there and went home at Hyde Park. In the evening, there’s a diocesan priest from Sierra Leone, named Father Daniel came to visit us at Hyde Park. In the evening we continued our community meeting of the project of life.
Thursday, September 01, 2005.
This morning I was so sleepy then I slept for a while. In the afternoon I cooked for the community (Soto Madura, rice and crackers). In the evening we had community meeting again continuing our community project of life. As community, we watched a DVD about CHAKRA, which I borrowed from the public library. At night I called up my friend, named John who studies theology in San Antonio, Texas. He’s a CICM student and my classmate in Indonesia. He’s done with his theology study and ready to do pastoral work this October. Next year, probably he’ll make his perpetual vows and deaconate ordination in Texas. He came to the USA in November 2002, about seven days after my arrival.
Friday, September 02, 2005.
In the homily of Father Pascal this morning during the Mass, he proposed fasting. I remembered this practice again and I tried to do it again with eating once a day, namely supper only and drinking a lot of water during the day. It’s incredible that after I did it, my weight decreased. About two weeks ago after coming back from the CPE at Alexian Brothers, I had 195 pounds and now after doing little fasting, I have 190 pounds. It’s the same weight before I went to the CPE program.
In the morning I went to CTU to meet Nanko and Opal Easter regarding my workshops grade that some of them I didn’t accept grades. I did attend all of the workshop requirements for M.Div graduation. They checked on their archive data and it’s true that I have attended all. I went to the registration office and asked Maria to entry the Present grade on my Fall and Spring semester of last year academic.
Again I went to public library and returned the five videocassettes I have borrowed and I took 6 others. At night I watched one of them entitled the Cardinal.
Saturday, September 03, 2005.
In the morning Mass, Father Daniel from Sierra Leone presided the community Mass. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. we had community project of life meeting. In the afternoon, there were 6 Indonesian friends from Philadelphia came to visit us especially Harno. One of them Santi, the leader of Indonesian Catholic Group in Philadelphia whom I knew last year when I was doing pastoral work in Philadelphia. The other one whom I met last year is Dedy. They spent vacation to visit Chicago and stayed at a hotel. In the evening together with Valery, I watched a video about Irish in America then with Father Victor and Daniel we watched a video entitled Priests of Passion (the celibacy of Catholic priesst).
Sunday, September 04, 2005.
In the morning together with Valery, I went to Saint Therese Chinatown by CTA bus number 6 and red line train. We attended the 9.30 Mass presided by the Maryknoll father, Tim who speaks fluently Cantonese. It’s the Chinese/Cantonese Mass. Since Father Michael, the pastor, has arrived, so there was a lot of food prepared by this pastor. Valery and I are assigned to have ministry at Saint Therese Chinatown for this academic year. I am going to teach Confirmation program (8 children) together with Allun, one of the catechists and Valery with CCD program, the third grade children. They are going to start in October. We helped to clean up basement after all people have gone. It reminds me to Petrus who was doing this job when he’s here. Now, it’s my pleasure to have this ministry together with Valery. There was a lot of fruit leftover that we brought it home to Hyde Park with Father Pascal who gave us a ride. I did go to a salon at Chinatown to cut my hair that cost $ 22. It’s my first time in this country to cut my hair at a salon. Usually, I ask my confrere to cut my hair. Mario and Victor Hugo did cut my hair becoming bald in December 2002 and June 2004, then Ignas cut my hair shorter last May 2005. I like to have bald style again; maybe I will do it again at the end of this Fall semester.
After we had evening prayer and sharing, we had supper at 7.30 p.m. cooked by Francois. During this past week, I didn’t write anything on this journal except on my journal book, so in the evening I type it on my computer. Then I think maybe better I just post it weekly on my blogger website and multiply.com without sending it directly to many e-mail addresses. Starting from now, I inform all of my pen pals that my journal can be viewed on both of my websites:
http://www.acdw74.blogspot.com and
http://www.acdw74.multiply.com
Monday, August 29, 2005.
I went to CTU to borrow some videocassettes and read some magazines at the CTU library. Since it was still on vacation, there’s nobody in the reading room. In the evening after supper from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. we had community meeting to plan our community project of life.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005.
In the morning I went to LSTC bookstore to check the books required by my courses this Fall semester. I checked those books in our library and I got some books then I checked on-line CTU library in which I got some books and I borrowed them directly by going to CTU. There are some books I couldn’t find both in the Xaverian library and CTU library, so I have to buy them at LSTC or maybe I will compare their prices with the Amazon.com. I borrowed some fifteen books from CTU library including Pastores Dabo Vobis and Instrumentum Laboris that are required by the Vatican visit next December 2005 and March 2006 especially for the priesthood formation.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005.
Three new Xaverian theology students, namely Harno, Valery and Francois today have orientation at CTU. I went to Saint Peter Church in downtown Chicago to have reconciliation then I went to public library to borrow five videocassettes and DVD’s. I have been having the public library card since two years ago but I never borrowed anything. I think I am influenced by an Alexian Brother, named Ronald who likes to borrow videocassettes at public library, so it intrigued me to do so. Two years ago I knew that there is a room to borrow this popular library staffs but I was not interested to come again. I have new spirit to know more about some interesting topic such as spirituality and other religious film that I can borrow from this library. Hopefully, this will be my personal learning and take advantage of the facility of the U.S. library. Normally, I can borrow 6 videocassettes or DVD’s and bring them home for only 7 days.
I went to Saint Therese, Chinatown and after 20 minutes chatting with Father Aniello, the bell was rung and there’s Father Michael Davitti who just came back from his vacation in Italy. Welcome back to Chicago (Ben tornato tra noi, Padre). I spent some time there and went home at Hyde Park. In the evening, there’s a diocesan priest from Sierra Leone, named Father Daniel came to visit us at Hyde Park. In the evening we continued our community meeting of the project of life.
Thursday, September 01, 2005.
This morning I was so sleepy then I slept for a while. In the afternoon I cooked for the community (Soto Madura, rice and crackers). In the evening we had community meeting again continuing our community project of life. As community, we watched a DVD about CHAKRA, which I borrowed from the public library. At night I called up my friend, named John who studies theology in San Antonio, Texas. He’s a CICM student and my classmate in Indonesia. He’s done with his theology study and ready to do pastoral work this October. Next year, probably he’ll make his perpetual vows and deaconate ordination in Texas. He came to the USA in November 2002, about seven days after my arrival.
Friday, September 02, 2005.
In the homily of Father Pascal this morning during the Mass, he proposed fasting. I remembered this practice again and I tried to do it again with eating once a day, namely supper only and drinking a lot of water during the day. It’s incredible that after I did it, my weight decreased. About two weeks ago after coming back from the CPE at Alexian Brothers, I had 195 pounds and now after doing little fasting, I have 190 pounds. It’s the same weight before I went to the CPE program.
In the morning I went to CTU to meet Nanko and Opal Easter regarding my workshops grade that some of them I didn’t accept grades. I did attend all of the workshop requirements for M.Div graduation. They checked on their archive data and it’s true that I have attended all. I went to the registration office and asked Maria to entry the Present grade on my Fall and Spring semester of last year academic.
Again I went to public library and returned the five videocassettes I have borrowed and I took 6 others. At night I watched one of them entitled the Cardinal.
Saturday, September 03, 2005.
In the morning Mass, Father Daniel from Sierra Leone presided the community Mass. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. we had community project of life meeting. In the afternoon, there were 6 Indonesian friends from Philadelphia came to visit us especially Harno. One of them Santi, the leader of Indonesian Catholic Group in Philadelphia whom I knew last year when I was doing pastoral work in Philadelphia. The other one whom I met last year is Dedy. They spent vacation to visit Chicago and stayed at a hotel. In the evening together with Valery, I watched a video about Irish in America then with Father Victor and Daniel we watched a video entitled Priests of Passion (the celibacy of Catholic priesst).
Sunday, September 04, 2005.
In the morning together with Valery, I went to Saint Therese Chinatown by CTA bus number 6 and red line train. We attended the 9.30 Mass presided by the Maryknoll father, Tim who speaks fluently Cantonese. It’s the Chinese/Cantonese Mass. Since Father Michael, the pastor, has arrived, so there was a lot of food prepared by this pastor. Valery and I are assigned to have ministry at Saint Therese Chinatown for this academic year. I am going to teach Confirmation program (8 children) together with Allun, one of the catechists and Valery with CCD program, the third grade children. They are going to start in October. We helped to clean up basement after all people have gone. It reminds me to Petrus who was doing this job when he’s here. Now, it’s my pleasure to have this ministry together with Valery. There was a lot of fruit leftover that we brought it home to Hyde Park with Father Pascal who gave us a ride. I did go to a salon at Chinatown to cut my hair that cost $ 22. It’s my first time in this country to cut my hair at a salon. Usually, I ask my confrere to cut my hair. Mario and Victor Hugo did cut my hair becoming bald in December 2002 and June 2004, then Ignas cut my hair shorter last May 2005. I like to have bald style again; maybe I will do it again at the end of this Fall semester.
After we had evening prayer and sharing, we had supper at 7.30 p.m. cooked by Francois. During this past week, I didn’t write anything on this journal except on my journal book, so in the evening I type it on my computer. Then I think maybe better I just post it weekly on my blogger website and multiply.com without sending it directly to many e-mail addresses. Starting from now, I inform all of my pen pals that my journal can be viewed on both of my websites:
http://www.acdw74.blogspot.com and
http://www.acdw74.multiply.com
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