4th letter of February 2006

Sunday, February 26, 2006
4th letter of February 2006

4) 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 26, 2006

Monday, February 20, 2006.
I attended morning classes both Natural Law and the Beguines. This morning Father Pascal has purchased my JAL ticket through Lia, a roundtrip ticket Chicago-Jakarta with price $ 1070. In the evening I attended the class of Biblical Foundation of Spirituality.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006.
While I was reading some articles, I got a phone call from my provincial, Father Ivan. He envoyed a good news for me that I was admitted to final vows and deaconate ordination by the General Direction of the Xaverians in Rome. I was very happy and grateful to hear that. Thanks be to God…with full of thanks I thanked God with all of my heart, body and spirit in the depth of my heart’s room. I opened my e-mail and I got the e-mail forward from the provincial an official letter of the General Direction signed by Father Luigi Menegazzo. The letter says that I am admitted to the final vows and deaconate ordination then the Superior General with the councilors think to send me directly to Japan soon after my priesthood ordination that probably next year in the middle of 2007. It’s a plus good news for me. Japan is my first choice to go as a missionary….how great is the Lord who hears my prayer and I keep my wish and dream to follow up this future assignment.
In the afternoon I was cooking: Hot dog and bean.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006.
I attended Natural Law class and Beguines in the morning….I called up my family in Indonesia telling them that I am admitted to final vows and deaconate ordination.

Thursday, February 23, 2006.
In the morning I attended the class of integrating core (Liturgy, spirituality and contemplation). At noon I went to St. Therese Church to meet Father Michael to have spiritual direction. We had Polish lunch bought by Jenina. He took me home in the afternoon after going to a funeral home at Chinatown. In the evening Father Pascal showed me the real ticket of JAL he just got today. So, now I am in peace because I have the ticket to go home to Indonesia for vacation (29 May – 21 August) with Dharmawan.

Friday, February 24, 2006.
In the morning after the Mass and breakfast, I went to CTU to attend the short talk of the president of CTU, Donald Senior, cp and the dean of CTU, Father Gary Riebe, svd. They gave us, the seminarians who study at CTU about what the Vatican visitors are going to ask upon their visit and interview to each one of us at our own formation house in this coming early March. I went to CVS to print some pictures of my Confirmation kids. I prepared them to give the frame and their pictures on the Confirmation day that will be held at St. Therese Church on May 28, 2006 by Bishop Perry. In the evening I was searching on the Internet about some resources for my papers.

Saturday, February 25, 2006.
This morning after the Mass and breakfast, I was driving a green car accompanied by Valery and Ignas to go Saint Therese Church. With the kindness of Valery, I had a chance again to drive a car in order to be accustomed. I was helping out at the church and put the pictures of the confirmandi in the frames. I remained stay at the church’s rectory overnight. I had accompaniment of Edi Liang and we had supper together at the rectory together as well with Lisa. At 9.30 p.m. I was typing this journal at the rectory in the silent situation.

Sunday, February 26, 2006.
I stayed at St. Therese’s rectory tonight. At 9.30 a.m. I attended the Mass and continued with the Confirmation class. Cesare taught the kids (5) about eternal life. One student named Ales was absent. At noon there’s Mandarin Mass and we joined the lunch together with them. At 3 p.m. I went home at Hyde Park with Deacon Paul, svd. Some 92 more days from now I will go back to Indonesia for vacation.

Kabar gembira dari Roma buatku, 21 February 2006

Hari ini hari Selasa, 21 Februari 2006. Di pagi hari jam 10.10 saat aku membaca bacaan untuk kuliah hari Kamis, aku menerima telepon dari Pastor Provinsial SX di USA, Father Ivan Marchesin. Beliau memberitahukan secara resmi padaku bahwa permohonan kaul kekal dan diakonatku telah dikabulkan oleh Direksi General SX di Roma....sungguh gembira rasanya dan plong mendengarkan kabar ini. Dia forward e-mail dari wakil superior general sx, Father Luigi Menegazzo lalu aku abadikan di blog ini. Berita gembira yang sama di bawah ini bahwa aku akan diutus ke Jepang sebagai misionaris setelah aku ditahbiskan jadi pastor mungkin pertengahan tahun 2007 di Indonesia. Berkat dan rahmat Tuhan begitu besar, aku hanya bisa bersujud di kamarku dan mengucap syukur atas berita gembira ini seraya memanjatkan doa dan pujianku pada Dia yang telah memanggilku. Dengan "kidung Magnificat" aku bersujud di hadirat Yang Maha Kasih. Ini surat resmi dari Roma yang menjadi kenangan tersendiri bagiku....
Salam dan doaku untuk negeri Sakura yang menjadi impianku....
Sedianya aku akan kaul kekal di komunitas SX di Franklin-Wisconsin pada 6 Mei sore 2006 lalu tahbisan diakonat di Gereja St. Therese Chinatown Chicago tanggal 14 Mei 2006. Kutunggu hari-hari penuh harapan di bulan Mei dari kaul kekal, tahbisan diakonat, wisuda M.Div dari CTU (18 Mei) lalu sakramen krisma untuk ke-6 anak didiku di St. Therese Church Chinatown Chicago (28 Mei) lalu 29 Mei aku bisa liburan ke Indonesia bersama Dharmawan. Kabar gembira lain yaitu aku dah dapat tiket JAL tuk liburan ke Indonesia dari 29 Mei hingga 21 Agustus 2006...jadinya yah 12 minggu persis.
Tanda terima kasihku buat Tuhan dan Bunda Maria yang terus menjagaku:
Denny Wahyudi, SX


Rome, 20 February 2006

DENNY WAHYUDI ALEXANDER
International Theology
CHICAGO, IL
USA


Re: Admission to Final Profession and Diaconate

Dear Denny Wahyudi,
I am very happy to inform you that, during session no. 26 of the General Council, the Superior General, with the favorable opinion of his Councilors, admitted you to the Final Profession in our Congregation. He also confirmed your admission to the Order of Deacon.

Together with our congratulations on this very important occasion in your life, we also wish to assure you of our prayers. May your final Consecration find you always faithful and may the Ministry of deacon bear witness to your consecration. In becoming a Minister to God’s People you must always be an example and encouragement to them. Always be faithful to the solemn and public promise to pray the daily Liturgy of the Hours in its entirety. You are a man of prayer and through prayer you will become pastor of the people and a messenger of Christ.

Draw up a plan, in dialogue with your Regional Superior, that will ensure you have an intense experience of the Diaconate; you should also begin to plan the time of your Ordination to the Priesthood.

The Superior General, having learned of your desire to work in Japan, discussed the matter with the Councilors and is oriented towards assigning you to this mission immediately after your Ordination to the Priesthood. The final assignment will be made when you are admitted to the Priesthood.

We entrust this very solemn and important moment of your life to Our Blessed Lady, who has always guided and protected you.




Fr. Luigi Menegazzo





Copy to:
Fr. I. Marchesin, Regional Superior, USA
Fr. V. Baravalle, Superior Delegate, Indonesia

“Only the good and rational person
is capable of true friendship,
for reason stirs up and nourishes friendship” (Francis DeSales)

Alexander Denny Wahyudi, sx
Xaverian Missionaries
1347 East Hyde Park Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60615-2924
Phone 773 643 5745 Fax 773 643 6907
Website:
http://www.xaviermissionaries.org
and
http://acdw74.blogspot.com
and
http://acdw74.multiply.com
and
http://www.xaverindo.org

3rd letter of February 2006

Sunday, February 19, 2006
3rd letter of February 2006

3) 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 19, 2006

Monday, February 13, 2006.
I attended the morning class of Natural Law followed by Medieval Women Mystics and this time we learned about Hildegard Von Bingen. In the afternoon I typed my reflection of Biblical Spirituality class. In the evening I attended the class of Barbara Bowe, namely, Foundation of Biblical Spirituality.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006.
In the morning I took Ignas to Alexian Brothers Medical Center at Elk Grove Village to submit his summer CPE application. I met Brother Ronald (91) and at noon directly we went home. I wrote weekly paper of Liturgy and Prayer. In the afternoon I cooked (gado-gado/salad with peanut dressing). After the supper, Ignas took me to Chinatown to survey SRO Hotel for my Indonesian friends from New York City who are going to come to my deaconate ordination on May 14th.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006.
I attended classes of Natural Law and Beguines and Medieval Women Mystics this morning. I got itinerary ticket of JAL (Chicago-Jakarta) from Lia Hartono through e-mail (29 May – 21 Agst). At 1 p.m. for 30 minutes I had formation meeting with Father Rocco.

Thursday, February 16, 2006.
In the morning I attended the spirituality and liturgy class. In the afternoon I cooked Lasagna and other fast food. At night we had community meeting led by Father Pascal. For two hours we discussed about the first ensyclic of Pope Benedict XVI, “Deus Charitas Est.”

Friday, February 17, 2006.
At 8 a.m. Father Aniell picked us (Atumisi and me) up to go to Chicago Festival of Faith at Rosemont, close to O’Hare airport. We were at the stand of exhibition to share our Xaverian missionary vocation to others. Most of people who came to this event is women. At 4 p.m. we went home.

Saturday, February 18, 2006.
This morning the temperature was so cold, about minus 5 Fahrenheit degrees (minus 20 Celsius degrees). In the morning I cleaned the kitchen and did laundry. In the evening together with Valery, Francois and Harno, I went to Furama Restaurant to attend Saint Therese School banquet/fundraising. At 10 p.m. we went home.

Sunday, February 19, 2006.
This morning together with Valery, I went to Saint Therese Church by white car in order to practice my driving skill. After the confirmation class taught by Cesare, s.j. we went home. ON the way home, I was driving the white car with the instruction of Valery. He taught me how to do parallel parking. For 1, 5 hours I practiced of driving and went home safely. At 3 p.m. together with other Indonesian Xaverian students I went to have supper close at the Midway Airport since Mira invited us plus other Indonesian friends. I was late 15 minutes to participate in the evening prayer started at 7 p.m.
I was little bit frustrated this night since I couldn’t contact Lia via phone. She is the travel agent person whom I have contacted this week to make JAL ticket for my vacation to Indonesia. Hopefully, Father Pascal can talk to her regarding the payment method.

2nd letter of February 2006

Sunday, February 12, 2006
2nd letter of February 2006

2) 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 12, 2006

Monday, February 06, 2006.
This week we start our Spring Semester at CTU. I attended the morning classes: Ethic (Natural Law) by Fornasari (20 students) and from 10 to 11.15 a.m. Beguines and Medieval Women Mystics (10 students) by Paul Lachance, OFM at synagogue place. In the evening I had class of Foundation of Biblical Spirituality by Barbara Bowe, RSCJ. There were 61 students at this class.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006.
At 8.30 a.m. I headed for downtown at Randolph Street to have driver’s license test (written exam). There are 35 questions (multiple choices). I paid $ 20 and passed the exam (5 mistakes). I bought something for my oldest niece, Karina (10 years old) in Ponorogo, Indonesia. In the afternoon I cooked for my community: garlic bread and chicken soup. In the evening at my room I was reading Beguines and Women Mystics.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006
I attended the class at synagogue place both Natural Law and Beguines. In the Natural Law class, Ignatius is my classmate. After the supper, we (Ignatius, Dharmawan, Harno and I) went to Astrid-Darwin’s house to celebrate the birthday of Mira (27). We picked up Edi and Lisa while the was snowing.

Thursday, February 09, 2006.
In the morning I attended the class of Integrating Core (Spirituality, Liturgy and Contemplation) by Friar Gilberto, OFM. There were about 24 students. At our house in Hyde Park, there was provincial meeting (Fathers Ivan, Alfredo, Pascal, Adolph, and Aniello). In the afternoon I was cooking for the community: Tom Yum Soup and Lasagna. In the afternoon the provincial invited me to meet the U.S. provincial council. They accepted my application to the perpetual vows and deaconate ordination and proceed it to the General Direction in Rome which will have meeting on February 16 to March 8 in Rome. During those days, they are going to inform officially my application to perpetual vows and deaconate ordination. I just wait for it from my rector. I am very happy to know this good news and look forward the official answer of it from Rome. At 7.30 p.m. we had community meeting.

Friday, February 10, 2006.
All of us went to Frankfort, Illinois to have monthly retreat preached by Father Michael Davitti, SX. It was concluded by Mass in the afternoon and we went back to Hyde Park. We had supper with the menu of Lebanese food and at 8 p.m. Father Mosele and 5 college students came to visit our community. They are Drake, Terry, Steve, John Tomas/JT, and Craig). At night my friend from New York City called me up saying that he and three other friends would come to Chicago to attend my deaconate ordination, on May 14th.

Saturday, February 11, 2006.
In the morning Mass there were four college students taking part with us and continued with the breakfast together (pancake, scramble egg cooked by Alejandro and Father Victor Mosele). They headed for Saint Therese Chintown to know more about the Xaverians. I was cleaning the kitchen and did laundry. In the afternoon at 4.30 p.m. Khoan, a Vietnamese Redemptorist student came to pick me up and we went to Lunar New year celebration at Holy Spiritan church at Southside Chicago. There were about 50 people coming to this event. It started with evening prayer led by Deacon Joseph Nguyen, the Spiritan, my classmate at CTU. I was chatting with Sister Mary Chandler, rscj and two CTU students, Sister Lorraine, a Dominican and Caroline, a lay woman. At 8 p.m. I went home at Hyde Park and Khoan gave me a ride. At nigth I was preparing the confirmation class for tomorrow.

Sunday, February 12, 2006.
Together with Valery, I went to Saint Therese at 8 a.m. by CTA. I served by giving communion at the 9.30 Mass and continued by teaching the confirmation program. The 6 confirmandi came and I taught them about the Church whose 4 characteristics (one, holy, catholic and apostolic). I asked them to take one Chinese martyr that was displayed at the basement of the church and each of them told the story of the Chinese martyrs. At the second part of the class I was taking picture of them for the confirmation day. They wore the altar servers gown and symbol of the confirmation (a red rosary and a sort of red stole with dove picture). I would use their picture for the bulettin Mass on their confirmation day, on May 28th and I would give them a frame with their picture as a memory of their confirmation day. There was Indonesian Mass at Saint Therese Church attended by 37 people and presided by Father Rudi, osc. I was eating lunch with them and at 1.30 p.m. I went home with Cesare, sj and Valery. At 2 p.m. to 3.15 p.m. Valery gave me a favor to drive a car. He helped me how to drive a car and I was delighted to practice it after I got the permit last Tuesday. I practiced it on the Lakeshore and drove it (the white car) to our garage. I am preparing myself to know how to drive for my service as a deacon in the U.S. In the afternoon I was typing this journal and storing the pictures I have taken so far in my laptop.

1st letter of February 2006

Sunday, February 05, 2006
1st letter of February 2006

1) 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 05, 2006

Monday, January 30, 2006.
For this week the liturgical team is Father Rocco, Francois and me. I went to CTU to return the In Focus, multimedia projector and Igot presentatation paper of the Religious Life in Context class. In the evening I led the lectio divina. In the afternoon, Father Rocco gave me two paper of “Last Will” for my preparation of final vows and deaconate ordination. At night I was reading books of religious life for my final paper.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006.
Today I was fasting since last night in order to check up my blood. In the morning Dharmawan took me to Doctor Ramirez to have medical check-up for my preparation of final vows. Then, Dharmawan took me to Mercy Hospital to check my blood at the laboratorium. According to the doctor, I have a good health. In the afternoon, Father Rocco took me to a doctor of eyes to check my eyes and both of my eyes are minus one and I ordered a glasses in order to see far distant clearly. It’s my first time to check my eyes after I for two years I have been feeling uncomfortable to see in distant. In the way to go home Father Rocco told me a good news that maybe I would have final vows in Franklin on May 6th and deaconate ordination at Saint Therese Mission Church on May 14th. I was very delighted to know this plan and looking forward those special moments in my life in this priesthood formation. In the afternoon Father Rocco gave me two testimonium report for my proposal of final vows and deaconate ordination. He made all documents for this case and I signed up what I need to do. At room I was doing my final paper of religious life in context.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006.
In the morning I was doing my final paper of religious life in context about the vow of celibate chastity. At 1 p.m. Father Tom, OMI picked us (Alejandro and me) up to go to Holy Rosary Church at Southside Chicago to practice rite of deaconate ordination of James Chambers, OMI. We’re serving as acolytes. After this practice, we were treated at a Polish Restaurant nearby the Midway Airport at Fordport. We went home at Hyde Park at 7 p.m. At night I was doing my final paper of religious life in context.

Thursday, February 02, 2006.
Today is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the feast of religious life. In the morning Mass I was sharing my presentation paper about religious life in the context of Indonesia. In the morning I was editing my final paper both the Capstone and the Religious life in context then sent them to the professors via e-mail (attachments). So, I am done with all paper for this J-Term. In the morning Father Rocco with 4 students (Wawan, Atumisi, Francois and Valery) headed for Springfield, Illinois to have a trip and visiting Father Adolph until Friday night. At 5 p.m. I led the Holy Hour at the community.

Friday, February 03, 2006.
In the morning after the Mass and breakfast, I went to Saint Therese Church to participate on the 4th graders gathering and fortunately, Joe was taking care of them in the games. I left at 1 p.m. and took a rest for a while. At 4 p.m. Father Tom, OMI picked us (Alejandro and me) up to go to his OMI’s theologate house to have chicken soup then we all headed for Holy Rosary Church to celebrate the ordination to deaconate of James Chambers, OMI. The 1.5 hours Mass presided by Bishop Perry (an African American bishop in Chicago) was attended by 70 people. I served the Mass by bearing the crossier of the bishop. It was started at 7 p.m. We continued to have supper at the basement of the church. I went home with Father Pascal. James Chambers, OMI is my classmate at CTU in both the Capstone class and the presiding class.

Saturday, February 04, 2006.
After morning prayer at 7.30 and the breakfast, we (Ignas, Valery and I) went to Saint Therese Church to help decorate the basement of the church for the Lunar/Chinese New Year celebration. We’re there till evening. There’s Indonesian choir as well practicing their songs for Lunar New Year’s Mass tomorrow morning. Father Michael cooked for all of us both the lunch and the supper. We went home at 6.30 p.m. I got a letter from the doctor I visited last Tuesday. IN the letter based upon the blood check-up, I have normal condition except my cholestrol is easily elevated. SO, I should do diet avoiding food with high cholestrol and eat more healthy food. At night I was typing this journal.

Sunday, February 05, 2006.
This morning I headed for Saint Therese Church Mission in Chinatown with Valery and attended the Chinese/Lunar New Year Mass at 9.30 a.m. It continued to the basement of Saint Therese School to have lunch and performances. The Indonesian Catholic group was taking part of this event by cooking and serving food for this annual celebration. I admired their dedication to work and help this event, even the Protestant fellows were helping out serving the food. After the celebration finished, they still washing dishes at the parish. George took us (Valery and me) home.
I was warming up food for our supper in the community (spaghetti cooked by Father Pascal and shrimp pasta by Father Michael).

Tomorrow is the new day for my Spring semester at CTU till mid May. I am looking forward consecutive great events in May, namely, final vows of mine (May 6th in Franklin), deaconate ordination (May 14th at Saint Therese Church-Chicago), graduation of M.Div (May 18th at Synagogue of K.A.M. Isaiah-Chicago), the confirmation of 6 kids at Saint Therese Chinatown (May 28th by Bishop Perry) then finally I have chance to spend 2.5 months in Indonesia for vacation; I am going to leave for Indonesia maybe May 29th morning (Memorial Day) with Dharmawan.

5th letter of January 2006

Sunday, January 29, 2006
5th letter of January 2006

5) 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 29, 2006

Monday, January 23, 2006.
In the morning Father Rocco asked me to give my testimonium file of my formation in philosophy and novitiate from Indonesia; I made photocopy of them and gave him for the presentation of my perpetual vows and deaconate ordination’s application. In the afternoon I have class of religious life in context and paid a check $ 140 for my graduation of M.Div II that will be held in May 18, 2006.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006.
In the morning I was typing draft of my final paper on Capstone class. In the afternoon I got a phone call from my friend in NYC, Theresia (Ken-ken).

Wednesday, January 25, 2006.
Father Rocco asked me to have medical check-up and I have appointment with Doctor Ramirez next Tuesday morning. It’s for the application of final vows and deaconate ordination as required by Vademecum of the Xaverians. At night, Father Michael, a Dominican and the chaplain of IYCS came back from Louisiana.

Thursday, January 26, 2006.
I did some reasearch and reading on Religious Life in Context for my final paper. At night we had community meeting.

Friday, January 27, 2006.
This morning I had the last class of Capstone and I still have to finish my 4 to 5 pages final paper for next week. In the afternoon I had the last class of religious life in context and I have to do 12-15 research paper due on next Friday.

Saturday, January 28, 2006.
In the morning there was meeting of YCS at Saint Gail’s parish attended by Fathers Rocco, Victor, Michael (Dominican), Manoj, Atumisi and Alejandro plus three youth from Miami, FL. In the morning I did clean the kitchen and cooked for supper: hot dog and gado-gado (Indonesian salad with peanut butter dressing). In the supper there were our guests: Edi Liang and a Nias sister. At night I had sharing face-to-face with Valery.
Today is raining and the night of the Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year, the year of Dog, 2557.

Sunday, January 29, 2006.
This morning the road is still wet and I went to Saint Therese Chinatown with Valery. After attending the Mass at 9.30, with Cesare, I was at the confirmation program. At noon I was invited by Marvin and other Indonesian friends (Edi-Lisa, Astrid-Darwin plus Leonard to have lunch at a restaurant while the road was crowded by people who saw the Chinese parade at Chinatown Chicago. I came back to Saint Therese rectory and Edi Liang gave us (Valery and I) a ride to Hyde Park. After the supper, I had meeting with Father Rocco and Francois for liturgy this coming week in the community. At night I was trying to do my paper on Religious Life in Context and Capstone.

GONG XI FAT CHAI 2557,
THE YEAR OF DOG
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE

4th letter of January 2006

Sunday, January 22, 2006
4th letter of January 2006

4) Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 22, 2006

Monday, January 16, 2006.
With Dharmawan I was staying at Saint Therese rectory Chinatown. Starting from today to Saturday, I presided the communion service at this mission church while Fathers Michael and Aniello are in Franklin attending the Xaverian assembly. At 7.15 a.m. I opened the door of the church then I was waiting for some people coming. Everyday 6 elderley women plus one old man, Frank come to attend the 7.45 a.m. prayer. Since today is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Day, the national day off, so I have time to study, no school. At night Dharmawan and Edi were cooking fried rice at the rectory.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006.
Morning as usual at the church. Dharmawan gave me a ride to CTU in the morning since I have class at 9 a.m., the Capstone course. This time, Robert Schreiter was teaching about Culture. From 1 to 3.45 p.m. I had class of Religious Life in Context. There were 7 presentations of the students. While I was doing my homework again Dharmawan and Edi plus Michael were cooking friend rice for our supper.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006.
Morning prayer as usual with the congregation of Saint Therese Church. Dharmawan took me to CTU because at 9 a.m. I had meeting with the director of M.Div program, Sister Barbara Bowe, rscj. After she checked all of my courses, she declared that I can graduate of M.Div track II on May 18 this year. This Spring semester 2006 I have two more courses for my M.Div program. Finally, I can finish my M.Div program for three years as I have been planning in the beginning of my study at CTU. Today at the class of Religious Life in Context there were some presentations again from the students. After coming back to Saint Therese, in the evening Dharmawan helped by Lisa and Edi prepared our supper, again friend rice from the leftover rice last Sunday. At night I read some readings of Religious Life in context course.

Thursday, January 19, 2006.
As usual this morning I led the prayer and Dharmawan read the first reading in the church. With Dharmawan I went to Saint Therese School to meet the teacher of 2nd grader and she liked to postpone the meeting of the 2nd graders with Father Michael and reschedule again because Father Michael is in Franklin. In the morning Dharmawan and I went to Hyde Park and I did my paper. In the class of Religious Life in Context there were two guests, namely, two brothers from CSC (Holy Cross) and Christian Brothers (FSC). They shared their experience and spirituality of brotherhood in their congregations. They are Brother Paul, csc and Kevin, fsc. With Dharmawan I went back to Saint Therese in the evening. Again in the evening Dharmawan, Edi and Michale were preparing food, fried rice for our supper. I was busy reading and typing my paper.

Friday, January 20, 2006.
This morning there were some Caucasian youth coming to join our communion service at Saint Therese Church. Most of them received communion by mouth, not through their hands. That’s what make me wondered. IN the morning Dharmawan took me to CTU because I have class at 9 a.m., the Capstone and at 1 to 3.45 p.m. the class of Religious Life in Context. I was presenting my power point presentation about Religious Life in Indonesia. After we went to Hyde Park, Dharmawan and I went to Saint Therese. It was raining and at night there’s snowing. Dharmawan cooked with Edi for our supper then Dharmawan went to Indonesian prayer group at Rina-Budi’s house. I got e-mail from Andi Nalu, the Xaverian student in the philosophy house in Jakarta, saying that my book he asked to send is already received yesterday. It takes two weeks since I sent it through post office. I’m glad that he finally got it for his ‘skripsi’, final project for his degree. Dharmawan and Harno came to Saint Therese at night.

Saturday, January 21, 2006.
As usual in the morning I was presiding the communion service. At 10 p.m. we (Dharmawan, Harno and I) went back to Hyde Park. At noon, Dharmawan, Alejandro, Pascal and I headed to Franklin, Wisconsin to attend the Xaverian assembly. We visited Chris Grohold first then we went to our house in Franklin. At 5 p.m. we celebrated Mass followed by supper together and singing. At 9 p.m. we went back to Chicago.

Sunday, January 22, 2006.
In the morning together with Valery I went to Chinatown. The Mass at 9.30 a.m. presided by Father Michael helped by Deacon Paul, svd and myself. The organist is new one, Rita Padawangi, the Indonesian girl who studies Ph.D at Loyola University. At 10.45 a.m. to noon I was teaching the Confirmation program. The 6 of them came to this class while Cesare, s.j. was not coming due to his retreat. I taught them about Jesus but in simple way, using the weekly magazine for them and filling out a questionaire about Jesus according to Gospel of Mark 1-2. At the end of the class I gave them rope game. It seems that they were very happy, laughing and spontaneously responsed my question. After they tried this rope game, they couldn’t figure it out and I gave it as their homework for next week. If they still don’t know, I am going to tell them how to solve this game.
In the lunch there were Mandarin people and Chinese food and I joined them. I met one Indonesian lady who gathered to this Mandarin group. She is Theresia living in downtown Chicago. An SVD brother, Andrew, my classmate at Religious Life in Context introduced me to this lady. I heard from some people that she married with a former Jesuit priest, a White American, a tall guy. She invited us to come to her house this coming Saturday to have dinner for Chinese New Year’s celebration. I was chatting with two Maryknool sisters, namely, Elisabeth from mainland China and Sarah from Myanmar.
Before the meditation at 3 p.m. I was asked by George to help carrying sofa and other things from Paul’s house, not far from the church. Then, I knew that Paul is the father of Brittany (5th grader at St. Therese School) and Tiffany (a girl who was in my confirmation group two years ago). His wife is Cindy. At 3 to 4 p.m. we (Father Michael, Valery, Edi and I) had meditaion, silent prayer before the tabernacle. At 4.30 p.m. by Father Michael’s car, Edi dropped us (Valery and I) at Hyde Park. I was cooking: Pizza, Lasagna. At 7 p.m. we had evening prayer and then supper. Afterward, I was typing this weekly journal. Today the weather outside is not that cold.

3rd letter of January 2006

Sunday, January 15, 2006
3rd letter of January 2006
3) 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 15, 2006

Monday, January 09, 2006
Today we start our J-Term semester at CTU for three weeks. In the morning I was taking care of Christmas decoration and Christmas tree as Father Luigi suggested me because the Christmas is over. At 11 a.m. I met the director of MA at CTU, Sister Mary Frohlich, rscj to check my MA studies. She gave me good news that I just need 2 more courses for my MA after finishing this Spring semester 2006. So, I just concentrate on two more spirituality courses in the Fall semester 2006 plus preparing myself for the oral exam in March or February 2007 while I am doing my deaconate year probably at Saint Therese Church in Chinatown Chicago. At 1 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. I attended a spirituality class entitled Religious Life in Context with the professor, Sister Mary Chandler, rscj. There are about 16 students at this class including Dharmawan, sx. At 5 to 6 p.m. in the community meeting, Father Lupo and Father Luigi spoke to us about their concern as General Direction as usual. At night I typed my paper for tomorrow, a Capstone class and Religious Life in Context.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006.
In the morning Father Lupo presided the Mass. I had class at CTU, starting this morning with Capstone at 9 to 12 p.m. There are about 27 students who attended this class taught by Gary Rieber, svd. At 1 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. I attended the Religious Life in Context class. Before lectio divina at the community at 5 p.m. Father Lupo and Father Luigi asked me to talk about my plan to have final vows and deaconate ordination in the Spring 2006. I told them that it’s already my plan that is agreed already by all three formators here. I just wait to my formators what to do in these next couple of months; hopefully it will be realized in April or May 2006. At night I was some readings of Religious Life in Context.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006.
In the morning Father Luigi presided the Mass talking about the ministry of deaconate regards to the Gospel reading of today. At 8 a.m. by CTA bus I went to downtown to donate my blood at Thompson Center building. It is the second time I donated after I did for the first time in Chicago 8 weeks ago. After coming back home, I typed my paper of Religious Life in Context class. At noon Father Ivan and Dominic came to our community to pick up Father Luigi and Father Lupo then after having lunch they went to Franklin community. At night I got a phone call from a psychologist, named Father Frank Cimarussti and I will meet him on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the rectory of Saint Matthias Church between Lawrence and Western Avenue, close to CTA Brown line, Western Station. At night I was reading the articles of Religious Life in Context for tomorrow.

Thursday, January 12, 2006.
In the morning I was reading articles of Religious Life in Context. At 1 to 3.45 p.m. I attended the class of Religious Life in Context in which there were Sister Dawn Nowehr, osf and an Augustinian priest who shared their spirituality to us. At 5 p.m. we had Holy Hour led by Francois. At night I was doing the paper of capstone and religious life.

Friday, January 13, 2006.
In the morning I had class of Capstone in which in the second part, Steve Bevans, svd gave us his power presentation of Tradition. I ate my lunch with Joseph Nguyen, the Spiritan at the cafeteria. Today Father Willy Mukucha, sx moved to Holy Name of Mary church. This morning Father Pascal had Mass at Saint Therese Church with Dharmawan then he had provincial meeting at Franklin.

Saturday, January 14, 2006.
In the morning Father Rocco asked me to write two letters of application to perpetual vows (to the Superior General of SX) and deaconate ordination (to the Provincial of SX in the USA). I had alread the concept to write it and since I was asked to do it, I did it directly this morning. We (Dharmawan, Harno, and I) together with two other Indonesian friends, Michael and Livia, went to Hoffman Estate to attend the baby shower of Dewi-Mulianto. I enjoyed the food, the Indonesian food especially, “Es Teler.” At 4.15 p.m. we went back to Chicago and Dharmawan gave me a ride to Saint Matthias Church. I met the psychologist for the first time in the USA, Father Frank Cimarussti. Only 45 minutes he interviewed me and he told me that I candidly answered his questions and I’m ready to have final profession. I was very glad to know it. He said that it’s enough for this meeting. I went back to Hyde Park arrived at 8 p.m.

Sunday, January 15, 2006.
In the morning I woke up at 7 a.m. and after took shower I prayed personally the breviary at my own room. At 8 a.m. with Valery, I went to Saint Therese Church. At 9.30 a.m. as usual I served the Mass with Father Michael and other minsiters. Deacon Paul, svd was preaching about his vocation story. The second reading was read by Michelle, the student of Confirmation program in my group and there were two altar servers in the same group, Alex and Priscilla. They start to serve the Church as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on May 28 this year. At 3 to 4 p.m. I joined the meditation prayer led by Father Michael at the church. There were 6 people at this weekly silent prayer. At 4 p.m. Father Michael treated us (Alun and me) to have supper at City Buffet, on Cicero, close to Midway Airport. At 7.16 p.m. we came back to Saint Therese and with Alun I went to Mimi’s house to attend her invitation of 30th birthday. There were some Indonesian friends present. At 10.30 p.m. Theresia gave us (Dharmawan and I) a ride to Saint Therese rectory. He and I stay at the rectory of Saint Therese church while Father Aniello and Michael have the Xaverian assembly at Franklin, Wisconsin from Monday to Saturday. We’re as students are going to go there on Saturday morning. At the room that used to be the room of Petrus, I was typing this journal.

2nd letter of January 2006

Sunday, January 08, 2006
2nd letter of January 2006

2) Sunday The Epiphany of the Lord, January 08, 2006

Monday, January 02, 2006.
This week we (Father Rocco, Harno and I) are in charge of the liturgy in our community. There was a phone call of Sister Josephine from CTU who likes to go to Saint Therese Chinatown this coming Sunday. In the evening there’s lectio divina led by Father Victor. There is something new I found out on the Shutterfly.com, namely, DVD pictures in which I can put my picture albums.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006.
In the morning I went to CTU to return In focus projector at library then I went to public library at downtown to return CD’s of languages and I borrowed some DVD’s. I went to Saint Therese to meet Father Michael and he gave me a list of things for kids in the confirmation program. Father Michael also asked me to stay at Saint Therese while he’ll be away at the Xaverian assembly in Milwaukee on January 15 – 21. We watched at the basement a DVD entitled Bewitched. I got a book entitled Theology of the Body John Paul II from Amazon bought by Father Pascal. The price is about $ 17. At night Father Luigi Menegazzo, sx, the vice general of the Xaverians came to our community in Chicago from Rome.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006.
In the morning I sent through the post office the book of John Paul II, Theology of the Body, to Andi Nalu, a philosophy Xaverian student in Jakarta. The cost is about $ 20 and it will be useful for him to write his final project of his study. Good luck, Andy. I hope it comes soon in a week. In the afternoon Father Rocco gave me a phone number of psychologist so that I can start the process of interview, hopefully next week. I directly call him up and probably next week he will call me back to make an appointment. This is important for the process of my perpetual vows in the Spring 2006. At night I was doing the paper of Capstone for J-Term at CTU.

Thursday, January 05, 2006.
In the morning I was doing the paper of the Capstone. At 5 p.m. I led the Holy Hour with the theme of Epiphany. I read a reflection I got from Saint Anthony Messenger written by Richard Rohr, OFM. At night I was reading a Xaverian magazine about Vocation Mission Animation meeting in Asia and Africa. It’s interesting to know the situation of these two different continents that give hope for the Xaverians’ vocation now and future. At night also I read a letter and Christmas card sent by a friend from Yogyakarta, named Naning.

Friday, January 06, 2006.
In the morning from 9 a.m. to 10.10 a.m. I have personal meeting with Father Luigi Menegazzo, s.x. He talked a lot about his experience in Japan. In the evening I did laundry. Father Lupo, s.x. was picked up by Alejandro and Dharmawan at O’Hare airport in the afternoon. He is one of the councillors in the General Direction of the Xaverians. He flew from Mexico City. I met him last time two years ago when he visited our community in Chicago.

Saturday, January 07, 2006.
In the morning I was cleaning the stove at the kitchen. After the supper together with Harno and Dharmawan, I went to Edi-Lisa’s house in Chinatown to celebrate the birthday of Lisa (28). We had supper together with other Indonesian fellows (Darwin-Astrid plus Leonard little, Mira, Livia and Mimi). I remember last year we also came to the same occasion with Petrus as well.

Sunday, January 08, 2006.
In the morning together with Valery and Sister Josephina from CTU, originally from Austria and Swiss, I went by CTA bus and train to Saint Therese Church. I attended and served at the 9.30 Mass which was a Cantonese Mass presided by Father Tim, a Maryknoll Father. A quarter to eleven to twelve with Cesare, s.j. I start again teaching the confirmation kids and 6 of them came. Cesare was giving them the Order of the Mass and how to serve as altar servers. Today in the Mass, two of the confirmandi served as altar servers. They are Brittany and Michelle.
There was an Indonesian Mass at 11 a.m. at this same church and I saw the presider was Father Edi, o.s.c. accompanied by Father Lupo and Father Luigi. There was an Indonesian Vincentian priest came to this Mass, namely, Father Susilo who studies in New York City. We had hospitality and lunch together with all Indonesian fellows (40 people) who came at this Mass. I was asked again to read the farewell poetry written by Imelda Palmas. It is for Debby-Bambang plus their 3-month first child, Nicholas who are going to move to Sacramento, CA. As usual, the audience was silently and solemnly paying attention to my reading. Selamat jalan Debby and family….
For an hour I met Cesare, s.j. to plan our confirmation program for this semester. At 3 to 4 p.m. I attended the Meditation led by Father Michael before the tabernacle of the church. There were two other ladies at this silent prayer including Agnes. I went to the public library to return the DVD’s and went back home at Hyde Park. I have time to write this journal at my room.
In our supper there is Manoj, an Indian young fellow who works at International YCS located in Paris. I got a phone call at night from my frind in NYC, Franz Slamet who ask prayer for his friend, named Antonius Steven Widayat (25) who is in the hospice because of his sickness (stadium 4 of cancer).

1st letter of January 2006

Sunday, January 01, 2005
1st letter of January 2006

1) January 01, 2006

Monday, December 26, 2005.
We (Ignas, Dharmawan, Harno, Alejandro and I) went to visit Imelda Palmas family at the suburb to celebrate Christmas (open house) till afternoon. There were a lot of guests coming and going at this family’s house. At night I worked on the power point of the kaleidescope.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005.
I still worked on the power point of the kaleidoscope.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005.
Continuing the kaleidoscope…. Thursday, December 29, 2005.
In the Holy Hour there were coming three guests from CTU (a Korean, Switzerland, African). I was feeling little bit sick, a kind of flu symptoms.

Friday, December 30, 2005.
I was still little bit sick. After breakfast I was cleaning the stove at the kitchen. At night after supper, we (8 Xaverian students plus Father Victor) went to Night Ministry on Belmont to share food to homeless people. It is the ministry site of Ignatius. We were there till 10 p.m. in the cold weather of Winter.

Saturday, December 31, 2005.
I worked for the last part of the kaleidoscope and finally at night about 8.20 p.m. I showed this power point I have made based upon my daily and weekly journal plus my photos this year 2005 to my Hyde Park Xaverian theology community. I am glad that I could give the best for my community at the end of this year. It lasted for one hour. It got positive response of my confreres here. At 9.40 p.m. for one hour we continued at the chapel with prayer led by Father Victor. The rest of the year 2005 I spent with Father Pascal, Victor, and Willy at the kitchen while other students went to Navy Pier to celebrate this old and new day. We signed the new year 2006 with drinking champagne together with Fathers Pascal, Willy and Victor at our house then I went to bed soon.
THANKS BE TO GOD FOR ALL GRACES I HAVE RECEIVED DURING THIS YEAR AND I WISH THE BEST FOR THE YEAR 2006………
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006. GOD BLESS US ALL……..

Sunday, January 01, 2006.
In the morning I went to Saint Therese Church with Valery by CTA bus and train. At 9.30 a.m. as usual I served at the altar with Father Michael and Deacon Paul, svd. At the basement we had hot pot lunch prepared by Father Michael. It’s seafood I enjoyed together with other friends. At 3 to 4 p.m. I joined the meditation before the tabernacle together with Father Michael and three other fellows. I went home by CTA and cooked/warmed up Pizza and Lasagna. At 7 p.m. we said evening prayer while Fathers Rocco, Victor and Willy went out for Taize prayer. In the supper we were only 4 Indonesian students present (Ignas, Dharmawan, Harno and Denny). Afterward, I type this journal to conclude my last week of the year 2005.

4th letter of December 2005

Sunday, December 25, 2005
4th letter of December 2005
4) Christmas, December 25, 2005

Monday, December 19, 2005.
Together with Valery, I was going to Saint Therese Church Chinatown to volunteer putting Christmas decoration at the church. At 3 p.m. Father Michael took us home at Hyde Park. In the evening I was preparing the power point of the community’s kaleidoscope for the December 31st.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005.
In the morning till afternoon, we (Ignas, Dharmawan, Valery and I) went to Saint Therese to help decorating the church.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005.
We as community went to a retreat house at Frankfort, Illinois, Portiuncula Retreat Center with the special theme of this year is HOPE, preached by Father Rocco. We ended the retreat with the afternoon Mass and had supper at Chinese Buffet nearby Chinatown.

Thursday, December 22, 2005.
This morning I borrowed In Focus, slide projector at CTU’s library and Ignas helped me give a ride. I tried this projector and with the help of Dharmawan it worked out. It will be helpful for the community event at the end of this year to review our community’s events during 2005. I put together my notes through my journal into power point including some pictures representing various moments of our theology community at Hyde Park. It takes time to prepare it. In the afternoon, joining at our holy hour, a young college man, Collin, together with Father Victor Moselle, sx. In the supper, we had long chatting about the vocation of priesthood.

Friday, December 23, 2005.
In the morning Mass there was Father Adolph who passed by to join us. I went to Union Station at downtown to take Metra train to reach Lake Cook Road Station. I visited an Indonesian family, Steve-Monci who live at Buffalo Grove, IL. They picked me up at the station at 11.30 p.m. and we directly went to have lunch at a Japanese Buffet Restaurant at Todai Restaurant located at Woodfield Mall, the largest mall in Chicago. I have been going to this mall last summer with two Alexian Brothers, Ronald and Victor. It’s a good place to have lunch with Japanese menu such as sushi and other Chinese food. It is much better than the Chinese Buffet. We went to shopping at a Swedish store called IKEI. In the evening we went to Steve-Monci’s house and I stayed one night there. The last time I went to visit them at summer, 6 months ago. I saw their three kids, Kalista, Thalia, and Alen are growing. They are 6th, 4th and 1st graders. I showed them my video tape of my presiding class, the Mass in Indonesian and English. At midnight I was sleeping at Thalia’s room.

Saturday, December 24, 2005.
I have slept very well last night and through computer Cik Monci showed me some pictures of the family reunion last summer at Walt Disney, Florida. At noon, the family treated me once again to have lunch at a restaurant, Bob Chinn’s Crab House Restaurant. They took me home at Hdye Park while the day was raining. After I arrived home, I could take a rest for a while and in the evening Ignas took us (Valery and I) to Saint Therese Church Chinatown to have Christmas Vigil Mass at 8 p.m. The children of the CCD program presented a Christmas tablo. It’s the first time I celebrated the Christmas night at this church and many people coming. We went back home at 10 p.m.

Sunday Christmas, December 25, 2005.
In the morning Valery and I went to Saint Therese to attend the Mass at 9.30. Only Father Michael and I served the Mass and not that many people came to this Mass. I joined the Indonesian Mass at Saint Therese School presided by Father Kuntoro Adi, sj from Milwaukee. There were about 40 people coming to this Indonesian Christmas Mass while in the church, there was Mandarin Mass at 11 a.m. attended by 79 people. I did meditation by myself at Saint Therese church and at 4 p.m. together with Deacon Paul, svd, I went back home at Hyde Park.
In the supper we have special menu cooked by Alejandro and Pascal Atumisi, a Mexican food, ‘tamales.’ It continued with community gathering, singing Christmas songs and exchanging gifts. We’re all present at this Christmas night plus Father Willy and Adolph and lasted until 11 p.m.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 25 DECEMBER 2005
AND
HAPPY NEW YEAR 01 JANUARY 2006

3rd letter of December 2005

3) 4th Sunday of Advent, December 18, 2005

Monday, December 12, 2005.
Today I was doing the power point of kaleidoscope of my community. In the evening, a professor of Old Testament from CTU, Sister Diane Bergant came to visit our community and joined our supper cooked by Father Rocco. At night I was watching a DVD entitled the Hiding Place, about Nazi.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005.
In the morning I went to CTU to return the DVD’s I borrowed then I borrowed some 24 books of religious life as anticipation of my J-Term course on Religious Life in Context in January 2006 as well as my personal reflection toward the perpetual vows in the Xaverians. In the afternoon I was cooking, a pork soup (sayur asin baikut daing babi). In the evening at our house there was a formators meeting of some religious communities. At night I was reading some books of religious life. At night Father Pascal just returned from East Coast.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005.
In the morning Father Rocco flew to Boston and returned on Friday night. I was reading books of religious life. In the afternoon I was cooking pizza and lasagna, just warming them up in the oven. There was one guest coming to join our evening prayer and supper, namely, a sister from California, classmate of Valery at CTU. At night again I was reading a book of religious life.

Thursday, December 15, 2005.
In the morning after breakfast I was reading a book of religious life. In the afternoon I was cooking chicken. In the evening I called my sister up in Jakarta to congratulate her 33 years old’s birthday.

Friday, December 16, 2005.
In the morning Ignas and Valery took me to downtown at the public library and I borrowed some CD’s of learning languages such as Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin and France. I can borrow them for three weeks. I went to the sacrament of reconciliation at Saint Peter Loop downtown and returned home afterward. I went to CTU to renew two books I borrowed last semester and signed up on January 18th for meeting with the director of M.Div, Sister Barbara Bowe, rscj regarding reviewing my courses due to graduation of M.Div in May 2006. In the evening prayer at our community we started the novena of Christmas. At night I was preparing the power point of kaleidoscope of my community till midnight.

Saturday, December 17, 2005.
In the morning I was cleaning the kitchen as usual. At 3 p.m. for 45 minutes I had personnal meeting with my formator, Father Rocco. In the evening we had the second day of Novena of Christmas.

Sunday, December 18, 2005
In the morning together with Valery, I went to St. Therese Church. At 9.30 a.m. I attended the Mass and the Sunday School kids had Christmas celebration. Soon after the Mass, Father Michael invited me to accompany him for shopping at an Italian store, Caputo. At 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. I joined Father Michael on the meditation before the tabernacle of the church. He took me home at Hyde Park.
At 6 p.m. we (Father Rocco, Father Victor, Valery, Harno and I) went to watch a play about Thomas Merton entitled the Hermit in New York, while outside was very cold, about minus 13 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit). Upon coming home, I was eating supper and then typing this journal.

2nd letter of December 2005

2) 3rd Sunday of Advent, December 11, 2005

Monday, December 05, 2005.
I attended the last class of presiding in which we had funeral rites as the practicum of group three. At 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. I attended a lecture by Anthony Gittins. At night I printed out 30-page of my EMP course.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005.
From 8.45 a.m. to 10 a.m. I met three formators in my community. In the afternoon I cooked two chickens that I put on the oven. It’s quite simple and easy to prepare it. In the evening I attended EMP class, the last class at this semester and I submitted the final paper.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005.
This morning is very cold, the temperature is 1 degrees Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius). I attended the last class of Amos in the morning. In the afternoon I attended the Pana Maria Mass at CTU presided by Father Gilberto, OFM. At night I printed out the final paper of Inculturation and Dialogue class as my MA paper.

Thursday, December 08, 2005.
In the morning I attended the last class of Inculturation and Dialogue and submitted the final paper. I borrowed 5 DVD’s from CTU’s library and booked in focus multimedia projector from December 22 to January 3 for the kaleidoscope of my community on December 31 night. Today is heavily snowing in Chicago. In the afternoon Father Victor led the Holy hour with rosary of luminous mystery. In the evening we had community meeting only for one hour.

Friday, December 09, 2005.
In the morning I typed some events I recorded on my journal this year for the community’s kaleidoscope. At noon to one p.m. I went to CTU to meet Father Fragomeni to review my last Indonesian Mass I did at Saint Therese Chinatown but he did not watch it, instead he treated us (4 students: Peter, svd, Michael, svd, Long Phi, svd and me) to have lunch at CTU’s cafeteria and informally talking about our second Mass we taped personally. At the end of the review, he gave me grade of Pass plus and the rest of the students (11 seminarians) only got Pass. It doesn’t effect on the grade, anyhow. From Father Victor, I got two sandisks of memory card for my camera bought by Darwin. Each has 512 MB and costs $ 13 each. It’s good deal. With this one 512 MB, I could take 600 pictures.

Saturday, December 10, 2005.
I worked at the kitchen in the morning as usual. It is a good day to rest and watch DVD’s. This noon, the friend of Angelina, namely, Shirly Sylviana, left for Indonesia after having training at Saint Charles, Illinois for 5 days. She works at IT of Accenture. Have a safe trip and we are glad to meet you. Success for you and keep in touch.

Sunday, December 11, 2005.
In the morning I went to Saint Therese Chinatown with Valery by CTA bus and train. I attended the 9.30 Mass and shared the communion. 10.45 a.m. to noon together with Cesare, I was teaching the confirmation class. All 6 students came this time and I took pictures with them before they have long vacation till next year. We meet again on January 8, 2006. I have made a list for them to serve at the altar as alter servers starting on January 8. There’s Indonesian Mass presided by Father Edi, osc. Bu Imelda this time cooked rawon. A poetry written by Ibu Imelda Palmas, I read it passionately to say farewell words to Nick, the musician/guitarist and singer at the Indonesian Catholic group in Chicago. He returns to Indonesia next week.
This afternoon Father Michael left for Franklin for his personal retreat, so I did meditation only with Edi Liang at the church. Only both of us attended this weekly prayer. Afterward, I went to Edi’s house to cut my hair. With the kindness of Edi, I could do my own vow to cut all of my hair as soon as my fall semester 2005 ends and all of my assignment and paper done. This the third time I am bald in the USA. I am glad to finish this semester earlier so I can do the power point for the community kaleidoscope.

1st letter of December 2005

1) 2nd Sunday of Advent, December 04, 2005

Monday, November 28, 2005.
In the morning I attended Amos class and read some articles in the library. At 1 p.m. in my presiding class, we had the rite of marriage between a Lutheran and a Catholic outside of the Mass by another group. At 5 p.m. in our community I led the lectio divina in reflecting Saint Francis Xavier’s favorite verse in the Gospel of Mark: 8:34 - 9:1. This afternoon I got birthday card from Father Luigi Menegazzo, s.x.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005.
In the morning I did type presentation of Inculturation and Dialogue class for this coming Thursday. In the evening I had class of EMP/one of the Integrating Core courses at CTU.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005.
I attended Amos class in the morning. In the afternoon I did type my final paper of EMP class, about 30 pages.

Thursday, December 01, 2005.
Today is snowing and I took some pictures of this beautiful season. I attended class of Chia and presented our dialogue with Theravadan Buddhism in the group. In the beginning of the presentation, I was chanting of the Pali language of Buddhism. I went to CVS store to print my pictures and sent them with my Christmas cards to some of my friends and families in Indonesia. In the afternoon I was cooking chicken and rice. In the evening we had a community meeting talking about our planning of St. Francis Xavier celebration. At night I prepared my reflection for tomorrow morning Mass.

Friday, December 02, 2005.
In the morning Mass I shared my reflection about 4 candles which I called candles of Peace, Faith, Love and Hope. The last is the one should be shined all the time in our life as God’s children. In the morning I went to St. Therese Church to accompany the third graders of St. Therese primary school. There were 15 kids (8 girls and 7 boys). I accompanied them to watch a Cartoon video and played some games with them. They are typical of their age whose characteristics of noisy, telling plainly and honestly what they feel and know. They are similar with the children I met in Indonesia in term of their behavior. I was happy to be with them until 1 p.m. For the lunch Father Michael, s.x. provided Pizza for all of us. I went home after buying some food at Chinese store and in the afternoon I cooked again for my community in Hyde Park. In the supper, we celebrated the birthday of Dharmawan (29). In the evening I was writing my 32 Christmas cards to be sent to Indonesia. I gave them to my guest, Shirly, who comes on Saturday.

Saturday, December 03, 2005.
In the morning I was cleaning the first floor and prepared the table for our feast of St. Francis Xavier today. In the afternoon at a quarter to four, Shirly, a friend of mine from Jakarta came to our house in Hyde Park. She stayed overnight and joined our celebration of St. Francis Xavier. At 4 p.m. together with 5 OMI’s (one priest and 4 students), we were celebrating the Mass and followed by supper. We are altogether 19 (including Father Michael who came afterward during the supper) people, singing, eating, talking, etc. At 8.30 p.m. we, the Indonesian students at the Xaverians (Ignas, Dharmawan, Harno and I) took our guest, Shirly to downtown Chicago by night. It was snowing and foggy. We took some pictures there till midnight we returned home.

Sunday, December 04, 2005.
At 8 a.m. I attended the Mass at St. Thomas Church here at Hyde Park. At 11 a.m. I accompanied Shirly to go to Saint Therese Church Chinatown, just to see Chinatown Chicago, Sears Tower, downtown Chicago, Water Tower Mall, etc. We returned home at 5 p.m. that was already dark. At 6 p.m. Ignas gave Shirly a ride to go to her training center at Saint Charles, Illinois, about 40 miles from our house. We helped her to reach her room and we said Good Bye afterward. She is going to leave for Indonesia on Saturday. She only has chance to see downtown Chicago before she starts her training on Monday to Friday, so it’s a privilege for me to welcome her in Chicago. I am glad that what we have planned before through Internet correspondence finally has been real coming true as it is. She is a roommate of Angelina, my friend in Jakarta. Through real and true friendship we witness the goodness of the Lord.

4th letter of November 2005

4) 1st Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2005

Monday, November 21, 2005.
Today is the special day for me because I have a group assignment of presiding class to present both rites of infant baptism and reception of a baptized Christian into full communion in the Eucharist/Mass. Fortunately in the morning there was no Amos class so that I could prepare myself for the presiding class. At 10.40 a.m. my group member, Joseph, a Holy Spiritan student, picked me up and we went to CTU. We arranged the 6th floor chapel of CTU for our practicum. We had time to rehearse the rites. Sharply at 1.30 p.m. the professor, Father Fragomeni came in to the chapel and we were about ready to begin. I was acting as a priest/presider, Joseph as a deacon who preached, Peter (an SVD deacon from China) as acolyte and Long Phi, svd as music minister (guitar). With the kindness and help of an Indonesian Catholic couple, namely, Darwin-Astrid plus their on year old son, Leonard, and Edi Liang, I could do this rites. I baptized Leonard and received Darwin into full communion of Catholic Church in this Mass. Overall the celebration that lasted 55 minutes was successfully running smoothly. Pascal Atumisi helped me tape this celebration with handycam. After having a break, we had evaluation of the celebration and the professor gave us praise and some suggestions. He gave us an A that made us happy as a group who has prepared it since a couple of weeks ago. There were some minor mistakes but not really significant to the general celebration. At 4 p.m. I invited Darwin-Astrid plus Leonard and Edy to have dinner at a Thai restaurant on 55th street. They gave me a ride to go home at Hyde Park, the Xaverian house. I am very satisfied by the result of today’s experience. What I have prepared with my group worked out very well done. My heartfelt gratitude to all of my group members and especially Darwin-Astrid who have come to my class and supported me in this presiding requirement with allowing Leonard, their son to be baptized. Thank you also to Edi who has been the godparent and sponsor.
I went home at 5.15 p.m. and joined the lectio divina in our community. At night I transferred the rite of infant baptism I did at CTU’s chapel into VHS tape so that I have memorable tape and I am going to share is as well to Darwin-Astrid.
At night I called up Paulus in the Xaverian philosophy Jakarta to ask him his final project. I congratulated him for his successful exam of his final thesis and keep pray for him to fulfill his test on December 5th for comprehensive exam. Good luck, Paul.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005.
In the morning I prepared the final paper of EMP class which due time on December 6th while I transferred my Indonesian Mass I did at Saint Therese Chinatown last Saturday and the infant baptism to VHS tapes. I am glad that finally I have done the big projects of presiding practicum, namely, three Masses that I have recorded in the VHS tape. It is important for me to review again when the priesthood ordination is going to happen in 2007 perhaps, so I will not forget how to preside the Mass. In the evening I attended EMP class in which there was a guest named Kathy Kelly (an Irish descent from Boston), whose rich experience dealing with social justice issue in practice. She has been traveling back and forth to Iraq for 26 times. She has experienced put into jailed for 60 times because of her hard voice of human rights. We had interesting class with her, not only theory but also simulation in creative ways.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005.
In the morning it’s snowing lightly but in the afternoon it disappeared. I attended Amos class in the morning and I did meet three professors to fulfill my assignment of practicing sacrament of reconciliation in my presiding class. First of all, I met Edmund Chia, then I met Father Paul LaChance, ofm in the cafeteria. I had plenty of time to do some annotated bibliography at the library for the presiding class and at 2 p.m. I met Father Ken O’Malley, cp to have the last confession. I was acting as a priest/confessor. I was struck by the action of Father O’Malley who was acting as a girl who confessed to me in a confession box with screen (part of the scenario). He directly speaking a lot of things without starting the sign of the cross….after he finished talking, I tried to explain that we missed the process of the confession, then suddenly he told me that he passed out/fainted. I couldn’t understand what he meant, but he was so kind explaining to me that it’s really happen in his own experience as a priest that a girl passed out in the box of confession, and I supposed to tell others who in line outside of the confession to help her. But, I didn’t really understand what’s going on until he told me this story. I didn’t need to repeat again but he is willing to write the evaluation. I’m glad of this new insight that I never heard and experienced, even in the class of presiding. I went home in the afternoon with happiness that I have done my three confession assignments.

Thursday, November 24, 2005.
Today is my birthday of 31st year and the fourth time I have in the U.S.A. It is coincided with the Thanksgiving Day in this country. What a beautiful and wonderful grace to be celebrated and remembered. We as community of the Xaverians at Hyde Park, went to Saint Therese Church for celebrating the Thanksgiving Day. We attended the Mass at 10 a.m. presided by Father Aniello and other Xaverian fathers. There were 11 Xaverian priests coming to this feast, from three different communities, namely, Saint Therese Chinatown, Franklin-Milwaukee and Hyde Park-Chicago. They are Fathers Michael, Aniello, Larry, Dominic, Adolph, Victor Moselle, Alfredo, Rocco, Victor Bongiovanni, Pascal and Willy. All 8 Xaverian students came as well (Alejandro, Denny, Ignatius, Dharmawan, Pascal, Harno, Valery and Francois). Father Michael and other volunteers cooked and prepared the food for this annual event. It is the first time I ever experienced the three Xaverian communities celebrating the Thanksgiving Day together. It’s a wonderful moment in fraternal togetherness as Xaverians that lasted shortly after the lunch. In the prayer before the meal, Father Michael led the prayer and mentioned the intention of my birthday.
Together with Dharmawan, I went to Edi-Lisa’s house and at 3 p.m. we went home at Hyde Park. In the evening again we’re invited to Edi-Lisa’s house to have dinner of SUSHI, Japanese food, made by two Indonesian couples (Edi-Lisa, Darwin-Astrid) plus Theresia. We went home at 10 p.m. while the weather was very cold.

Friday, November 25, 2005.
Today I did not go outside because the weather was very cold and in the evening the snow fell down adorning the white November season before Christmas. I enjoyed the day off and did little work on my paper of presiding class.

Saturday, November 26, 2005.
We had Mass still at 8 a.m. then had breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen. At 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. I met Father Rocco for personal formation (colloquium). I went to CTU to take a letter of the evaluation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation I did last Wednesday with one faculty member at CTU. The weather was very nice, much warmer than last days. While I came to CTU, I saw the five-floor CTU building is already put the glass windows. It’s pretty fast in building it. In the evening after the supper, I did a paper on the presiding class about My Self Understanding as a Minister of Reconciliation as I share at the end of this journal.

Sunday, November 27, 2005.
Today I woke up at 8 a.m. and we (Ignas, Dharmawan, Harno and Valery plus me) went to Saint Therese parish, Chinatown by car. I helped to serve at the Mass by distributing communion with Deacon Paul, svd. There’s no CCD/confirmation class today because of Thanksgiving holidays. At 11 a.m. there’s Mandarin Mass. From Darwin I got walkie-talkie that works very well. At 1 p.m. there’s Philippines-Italian wedding led by Father Michael at Saint Therese Church. At 3 to 4 p.m. I joined the meditation as usual guided by Father Michael then some of the parishioners gathered to plan the Chinese New Year celebration for next year. The weather was not that cold, around 46 degrees Fahrenheit and it’s just raining. I went home while the raining was stopped already. In the supper we celebrated my birthday (31). I got a blue shirt prepared by Pascal Atumisi. It’s been my 4th birthdays in the U.S.A. Afterward we (Father Rocco, Pascal Atumisi and I) met for liturgical team planning for tomorrow in a week.


Denny Wahyudi, S.X. (December 05, 2005)
Reflection on Presiding Class

MY SELF UNDERSTANDING AS A MINISTER OF RECONCILIATION

In my experience as a Catholic fellow, I have accustomed to come to the sacrament of reconciliation since I joined the Xaverian Missionaries in 1996 in Indonesia. The formators provided this internal forum for each one of us who were willing to confess our sins in monthly basis both in the novitiate and philosophy house. Before I entered the Xaverian, I was very seldom to come to this sacrament because I was hesitated and shy to confess my sins. After being a seminarian this spiritual practice slowly becomes my own habit even when I move to the U.S.A. for theology study. Even though here in the U.S.A. the formators normally do not provide priest for confession in monthly basis, but I have conviction that I should take care of this business by myself. I have self-conviction and self-confidence that if I do not keep this spiritual piety, I would not be a good confessor when I am being a priest someday. I have tried my best to go to Saint Peter Loop Church for this monthly personal spiritual act. After I take the presiding class this Fall Semester 2005 at CTU, I become aware of the ritual structure of the sacrament itself. Many times my professor, Father Fragomeni gave us examples how to be a good and effective confessor. I am glad that I know the ritual and memorize it by doing it in the practice with my friends. The more I practice it the more I get a custom to do it. Once I went to Saint Peter Loop Church, I learned of the priest who received my confession. The way he did the ritual reminded and led me to the ritual structure.
In my process toward priesthood, I have full conviction of the sacrament of reconciliation. It is simply that if I do not believe fully on this sacrament, why I should be a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. My conviction is that before I am really becoming a priest whose ministry of reconciliation, I should have a habit to go to confession. I experience how wonderful is the grace of this sacrament that I privilege to have as I do it monthly in the personal spiritual exercise. I was struck when I heard of one Canon Law professor at CTU who said that in his experience teaching at CTU, many seminarians who took his class had been long time did not go to the sacrament of reconciliation. He claimed that if one does not have a custom to go to confession, most likely one would not do a good job as a confessor. It is a rule of his that I do agree with. In the other source I have read mentions that the effective confessor is the one who likes to be a prayerful man. It is certainly making sense to me that a confessor should lead the confesee by his virtue and closeness to God. I have learned many times this rite by practice it in English but I do not know yet how to do it in Indonesian language. Probably, I will learn of this rite in Indonesian by reading the book of sacrament of reconciliation.
In my future ministry as a confessor, I should distinguish between sacrament, spiritual direction and spiritual counseling. I have some principles that I have to apply to this sacrament, such as, I have to be patient and full of compassion accepting others coming to the sacrament, to be a good listener, to be attentive to the case that a penitent tells to me, to be faithful to keep secret of the seal of confession, to be short in counseling after one confesses his/her sins, to be creative and helpful in giving the penance, to be aware of the time and place I give the confession, not to be rush or thinking many other things, to be meditative in serving this ministry, to see-hear-seek-love God in others who are willing to confess, to be aware that God is present in those people who come to the confession, to be humble before God and penitents with gentle voice and proper treatment, to have good desire and zeal to serve people who want to receive this sacrament that sometimes does not give a consolation or praise and reward of others because it is a hidden ministry that happens normally in a closed and screened box without knowing who come to the confession. I can say that if I fall into a laziness attitude to practice this ministry, most likely it is a sign that I do not love my vocation to be a priest any longer.
In my experience to do this sacrament of reconciliation as my professor assigns me to meet three other faculty members at CTU, I have done good jobs. In the beginning I have conviction knowing this rite very well and I was not nervous at all. I prepared a Scripture to read it at the confession (Romans 7: 14-25). In the first confession, I met a professor who gave me insight that I should give a penance heavier than only a prayer and good treatment toward the family of the penitent. I think it is a good input that I have to consider his/her proposal of doing the penance as my professor suggested at the presiding class. The second confession nicely I did in fully and complete structure. I was struck when the confesee told me that he is a priest and a professor at a seminary. But, luckily I could went through the ritual properly. The last one was really made me wondered and gave me insight to anticipate unexpected situation in a different setting of confession because he told me that it is a long line confession and he acted as a girl who was sick in breaking the law of God in keeping purity as a virgin, namely in the story she had intercourse with her boyfriend. In the scenario, she entered the confession directly talking and talking about her experience. After she finished talking, I told her that I should start with the sign of the cross then I was about ready to read the Scripture but she passed out without I knew it. I did not know that she was fainted because it was happened in a closed-screened box of confession. If I knew that she was fainted, certainly I would ask help of others who were in line outside for the confession. Most likely, if I did not hear her voice any longer, of course, I would ask help of others to see her or I would come out to check her what was going on at the other side of the confession box. It is a practical thing that maybe very seldom happening in the real life but it is a good insight I ever learn of the third person I have met at this act of confession. This is certainly the most unique one I ever have in this confession practice.
Overall, I learn how to be a good confessor as a priest in this presiding class. I know that now I have idealistic ways how to do the confession, namely, to be a good listener and good confessor but in reality I do not know what I am going to be when I will be a priest in near future. At least, by this reflection, I have dreams to practice my ministry as an ordained minister of the Catholic Church in proper and compassionate way. Like God, the Father who always waits for human beings to come to confess and ask blessing, so do I have to act likewise even though I am not a perfect man and I also a sinner who tries to serve God’s people through the ministry of the Church. In humility, good zeal, conviction and surrendering in God’s grace through the Holy Spirit, I believe I can carry this wonderful and privilege duty as ministry of the Church to help others to be closer to God in Christ Jesus.

3rd letter of November 2005

3) 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 20, 2005

Monday, November 14, 2005.
I attended the Amos class in the morning and presiding class in the afternoon. In the first part of the presiding class I met my group at 6th floor chapel to discuss about our infant baptism next week and the second part we had class at the founder’s room in which some classmates acted of the sacrament of anointing of the sick and the reconciliation. At 5 p.m. in my community Dharmawan led us the lectio divina. At night I revised my draft of Infant Baptism Rite.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005.
In the morning after having breakfast, I went to downtown, the blood center to donate my blood after waiting for three years. Eventually, I could donate it. I was so happy about it. The doctor who took care of me in the blood center is a young Philippines lady who also just lives in the US for three years. They took 500 CC of my blood, which is different with my experience in Indonesia. Normally in Indonesia every donation, I donated about 250-350 CC every three months. So far, I have donated my blood for 30 times. But, in the US I could donate my blood every 8 weeks or two months. After I run to get to a shelter bus, I was almost fainted but fortunately, I was conscious again. It happened maybe because I was running and the weather was little bit cold. I came home happily today after donating my blood and I felt healthier than ever. In the evening I attended EMP class.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005.
This morning I attended the Amos class and in the evening after supper, I went to SVD house to practice my Infant Baptism rite in the group. At 8.30 p.m. for the first time in this Fall season the snow was pouring down even though only for a moment. The temperature was pretty cold, about 26 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 6 degrees Celsius). After arrived home, I revised my draft of Infant Baptism and acceptance in to full communion Rites.

Thursday, November 17, 2005.
In the morning I attended the Inculturation and Dialogue class and we had presentation of our visit to Theravada temple. At night we had a community meeting discussing about the Theology of Mission in the Cosuma document. Today I received three VCD of Buddhist teaching from a Theravada monk whom I visited with my group a couple of weeks ago. The temple whose name Wat Phrasriratanamahadhatu is located at Magnolia Avenue, North Chicago.

Friday, November 18, 2005.
At 9 a.m. Father Rocco led us the monthly retreat at our community. This time we reflected upon an article of Ministry and Spirituality. After personal reflection, we gathered again at 11.30 a.m. to share each other. In the afternoon I was cooking chicken, mash potatoes and rice. After the supper, I practiced to say Mass in Indonesian language with Harno at the chapel. Dharmawan helped me to set up the handycam camera for my Indonesian Mass tomorrow.

Saturday, November 19, 2005.
In the morning I did some work at the kitchen, cleaning the stove and laundry. I prepared things for my Indonesian Mass this evening at Saint Therese Chinatown. At 4.20 p.m. we (Ignas, Dharmawan, Harno, Atumsi and I) went to Saint Therese Church. After Father Aniello said the Mass at 5 p.m., I did my presiding class assignment, namely, presiding Indonesian Mass with the help of some Indonesian friends. Harno is the musician of organ, Lisa is the cantor, Marvin is the altar server, the cameramen are Dharmawan and Edi, then Ignas and helped me in the offertory of gifts and the faithful prayer. It lasts 1 hour and 5 minutes. Overall, it was well done and my professor, Father Fragomeni will evaluate it on December 5th. I treated the three Indonesian Xaverian at a Chinese restaurant at Chinatown to utter my gratitude for them who have participated and supported me at this presiding Mass.

Sunday, November 20, 2005.
In the morning at 8 a.m. with Valery, I went to Saint Therese Chinatown by CTA. As usual together with Cesare and Deacon Paul, I served at the 9.30 a.m. Mass then at 11 to 12 a.m. we were teaching the Confirmation kids; there were 4 coming at this class; Alex and Priscilla didn’t come. Cesare with his laptop and power point presentation explained the kids about the liturgical year then I explained how to serve as altar server at the Mass. At 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. I joined the meditation at the church guided by Father Michael and followed by two others ladies including Agnes. So, we’re only 4. I returned to Hyde Park and transferred my Indonesian presiding Mass to VHS tape (one hour and 5 minutes).

Here I shared my homily at this Indonesian Mass I have presided on Saturday, but in Indonesian language…..entitled “Paimo and Dinda.”

PAIMO DAN DINDA
Saat ini di Indonesia hidup dan kehidupan serba susah. Harga BBM naik akibatnya terjadi PHK di berbagai perusahaan. Salah satu yang terkena PHK adalah Paimo. Bulan ini Paimo tidak bisa lagi mengirim uang untuk isterinya di kampung halamannya. Ia hanya bisa mengirim surat. Isinya demikian:

Istriku Dinda Tercinta,
Maafkan Kanda sayang, bulan ini Kanda tidak bisa mengirim uang untuk kebutuhan keluarga di rumah. Kanda hanya bisa mengirimmu 1000 ciuman.
Yang paling tercinta,
Kanda Paimo.

Seminggu kemudian Paimo mendapatkan surat balasan dari isteri tercintanya:
Kanda Paimo tersayang terima kasih atas kiriman 1000 ciuman Kanda. Untuk bulan ini dinda akan menyampaikan laporan pengeluaran keluarga sbb:
Tukang minyak bersedia menerima 2 ciuman setiap kali membeli 5 liter minyak tanah. Tukang listrik mau dibayar dengan 4 ciuman per tanggal 10 setiap bulannya. Pemilik kontrakan rumah mau dibayar cicilan dengan 3 kali ciuman setiap harinya. Engkoh pemilik toko bahan makanan tidak mau dibayar pakai ciuman. Ia maunya dibayar dengan yang lain….Yah terpaksa dinda berikan saja.
Hal yang sama juga dinda berikan buat kepala sekolah dan gurunya si Udin yang sudah 3 bulan nunggak uang sekolah….
Besok dinda mau ke pegadaian untuk tukerin 200 ciuman dengan uang tunai, karena yang punya pegadaian sudah bersedia menukarkan 200 ciuman + bayaran lainnya dengan uang 650 ribu rupiah, lumayan buat ongkos sebulan. Keperluan pribadi dinda bulan ini mencapai 50 ciuman.
Kanda tersayang…bulan ini dinda merasa yang paling kaya di kampung karena sekarang dinda memberikan piutang ciuman kepada banyak pemuda di kampung kita dan siap ditukar kapan pun dinda butuhkan. Kanda, dari kanda masih ada 125 ciuman, apakah Kanda punya ide? Atau saya tabung saja yah?
Dari yayang tercinta: Dinda seorang.

Kalau kita menyimak bersama cerita Paimo dan isterinya Dinda dengan modal 1000 ciuman kiriman Paimo ini, pikiran kita langsung ke arah hal yang negatif yaitu melihat situasi Paimo yang sudah di PHK, ia hanya mengirimkan 1000 ciuman dan bukannya uang untuk isteri dan anaknya. Maka logika wajar kita mengarah pada inisiatif Dinda isterinya untuk menjual diri atau menukar ciuman dengan uang atau kewajiban lain yang harus dipenuhi.
Padahal kalau kita cermati bersama Nyonya Paimo alias Dinda ini orangnya cukup “accountable”, jujur dan terpercaya apa adanya, penuh dedikasi dan tanggung jawab akan segala yang ia terima dari suaminya, yaitu 1000 ciuman kiriman suaminya, Paimo ini tidak disia-siakan. Ia pakai untuk memenuhi kebutuhan rumah tangganya. Satu-per-satu perhitungan ciuman dari suaminya itu ditukarkan dengan kebutuhan pokok setiap harinya dari minyak tanah, tukang listrik, uang sekolah anaknya Udin hingga keperluan pribadi sang isteri. Bahkan sisanya pun berupa 125 ciuman masih disimpan sebagai cadangan untuk keperluan pengeluaran tak terduga. Lebih lagi sang isteri minta saran Paimo untuk apa sisa 125 ciuman ini. Singkatnya kalau kata “CIUMAN” ini diartikan sebagai kata kiasan dan bukan arti sesungguhnya yang ditafsirkan sebagai uang/materi/barang/talenta sang isteri sudah bertindak sewajarnya seperti bacaan I dari Kitab Amsal: “Isteri yang cakap siapa yang akan mendapatkannya? Ia lebih berharga daripada pemata. Hati suaminya percaya kepadanya, suaminya tidak akan kekurangan kentungan.” Dinda, Sang isteri ini sudah menjalankan perannya sebagai isteri, ibu rumah tangga dan peran sosialnya di masyarakat dengan penuh tanggung jawab. ISTRI = Istana Surga Tumpuan Rahmat Ilahi. SUAMI = Sumber akan Mendapatkan Impiannya. Ini pesan positifnya.
Namun, kalau kita melihat sisi negatifnya, “CIUMAN” kita artikan sebagai bukan materi atau uang tapi memang benar-benar ciuman, berarti hanya penghiburan moral semata, nalar kita lari pada tindakan sang isteri yang asusila dan tidak terpuji. Ia rela menjual ciuman, menjual diri pada banyak pria untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hidup rumah tangganya. Bagaimana mungkin si isteri setia pada suaminya kalau ia sudah main serong dengan banyak pria lain untuk mendapatkan uang atau melacurkan diri? Kita orang beriman merasa risih mendengar cerita macam ini karena kita mengakui diri kita sebagai orang bermoral dan bersusila, melihat orang-orang yang bekerja sebagai pelacur semacam ini, kita cenderung menghakimi mereka tanpa melihat kasus per kasus bagaimana dan apa di balik perilaku asusila mereka. Kalau kita mau menganalisa lebih lanjut, pasti masalahnya kompleks dan rumit, tidak hanya menyangkut si pelacur tapi juga keluarga dan masyarakat bahkan negara ada di balik itu semua. Padahal dalam masyarakat kita ada orang-orang macam ini, menjual diri. Ada satu wanita di kota saya yang hidup dengan suaminya dan memiliki 6 orang anak yang memiliki wajah berbeda-beda. Orang sering bilang, “Wanita ini dijual oleh suaminya untuk mendapat uang guna memenuhi kebutuhan hidup rumah tangga mereka.” Kisah semacam ini menjadi bahan konsumsi laris-manis bagi orang-orang yang merasa dirinya lebih baik. Bukankah Yesus dalam Injil selalu mengutamakan orang-orang yang berdosa untuk diselamatkan seperti pelacur, pemungut cukai, orang kusta, orang miskin, sampah masyarakat dan minoritas lainnya? Pada akhir zaman orang-orang macam ini akan masuk ke dalam kerajaan surga terlebih dahulu daripada orang-orang yang menyebut dirinya sebagai orang yang kudus dan suci.
Akhirnya refleksi bagi kita adalah: Bagaimana kita menggunakan TALENTA/bakat/modal/ciuman/kasih/iman-harapan-kasih yang kita miliki dan diberikan oleh Tuhan secara cuma-cuma secara bertanggung jawab, berani ambil resiko dengan dasar kasih yang tulus ikhlas demi kebaikan semua dan tidak menyimpannya sendiri untuk kebutuhan pribadi? Intinya memberi dan diberi/ mencintai dan dicintai/ mengasihi dan dikasihi secara timbal-balik sebagi insan manusia memberikan MAKNA tertinggi dalam hidup kita seturut ajaran Tuhan kita Yesus. Semoga kita sekalian sungguh menjadi ISTRI (Istana Surga Tumpuan Rahmat Ilahi) dan SUAMI (Sumber akan Mendapatkan Impiannya) yang bijaksana untuk kebaikan keluarga kita bersama. Amin.

2nd letter of November 2005

2) 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 13, 2005

Monday, November 07, 2005.
This week the liturgical team in our community is Father Rocco, Harno and me. I attended Amos class in the morning and at 10 to 11.30 at the Bernardin Center, our presiding professor, Father Fragomeni watched our videotape of the first Mass in English. Overall mine is excellent despite some gestures that need to be improved next time. at 1 to 3.45 p.m. I attended the presiding class and we learned how to give sacrament of anointing to the sick person. At 4 to 5 p.m. I attended the colloquia of MA comprehensive exam in which Mary Frohlich, the director of MA, Steve Bevans, svd and Angela, an MA student shared us how to prepare the comps exam. I came home late and joined the lectio divina of the community led by Father Rocco. In the evening Valery asked me favor to see how to choose the courses at CTU for the Spring semester 2006. Delightfully I told him what to do with it.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005.
At my room in the morning I did type my second paper of EMP class for today. While I was doing this paper, Harno came in my room asking advice of his study plan for next Spring semester 2006 and I shared what I know of the CTU system. In the evening I attended the EMP class and submitted my 16 pages paper.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005.
I attended Amos class then I met my M.Div advisor, Gil Ostdiek, ofm to ask his signature for my spring semester courses. I just need two more courses for M.Div program. I am taking three courses for the Spring including two MA courses while in the January term I am taking one capstone/seminar only one credit and one MA spirituality course for three weeks. After supper I studied the Chia’s class until midnight.

Thursday, November 10, 2005.
In the morning I had mid term exam of Chia’s class. Even though I have studied and memorized many things but in the essay questions I did not answer them satisfactorily. I have tried my best to learn of it but I guess my capability to memorize the subject is diminishing due my age. In the evening I cooked rice and Soto Betawi (a sort of beef soup) and pecel (vegetable salad with peanut dressing). The holy hour was led by Father Rocco and we shared our experiencing of someone who impressed us as a icon figure to experience Christ Jesus in our life. We had community meeting at 7.30 p.m. talking about the Cosuma document on Theology of Mission. I prepared the reflection at night for tomorrow’s Mass.

Friday, November 11, 2005.
In the morning Mass I was sharing my experience based on the Gospel today. The first question I addressed was how many days have you been living in this world? I shared that I have been living in this world about 11,350 days and I have been living in the USA for 1,100 days. From 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. my presiding group, namely, Joseph, cssp, Long Phi, svd and Peter, svd came to the Xaverian house to plan our group assignment, namely, the Infant Baptism and the rite of Full communion in the catholic church in the Mass. It will be held at CTU on Monday, November 21. Directly after we finished the discussion, I typed the whole rites in English and learned of it since I have role as a presider in this action.

Saturday, November 12, 2005.
Today is the third year of my stay in the USA. I uttered my thanksgiving prayer in the Mass and an exciting day for me because now I can donate my blood to Blood Center in the USA. There is a rule in the USA that I can donate my blood after living consecutively three years here because my country, Indonesia is a malaria risk area. With this promise and agenda, I went to downtown to give my blood. Ignas, Valery and Syafa took me there as they went to shopping. After I came to the building, unfortunately, it’s closed. So, I have to postpone it till Tuesday when I don’t have class in the morning. At least I have to be patient at this thing I have kept in mind since my first months I live in the USA. I went to Chinatown by CTA to buy mustard seed vegetable and went home. I did laundry and ironing my clothes. I was little bit dizzy maybe because my hope to give blood is delayed. I took a nap for a while and cooked rice and pork mustard seed vegetable soup (sayur asin baikut daging babi). In the evening I prepared lesson for the confirmation class tomorrow at Saint Therese church in Chinatown. I went to bed earlier since my headache was still going on.

Sunday, November 13, 2005.
Ignas took Valery and me to Saint Therese at 8 a.m. I met Father Mark Schramm, svd who came to the church to supervise deacon Paul, svd. At 9.30 Mass presided by Father Aniello, deacon Paul was preaching and I participated in distributing communion to the congregation, alternated Cesare, s.j. Father Michael goes to Boston to attend the Chinese Conference with George so Father Aniello presided all Masses. Soon after the Mass finished, I came to the basement to teach the confirmation class. Today all 6 kids came and I gave them a lesson about the Bible with interesting game. They did competition into two groups and it seemed that they enjoyed and bit nervous to win the game. This game worked in Indonesia and it worked as well here in the USA. I’m glad to know their enthusiasm to participate it. They are less trouble than the confirmation group I had two years ago with Petrus. Today there was Indonesian Mass presided by Father Rudi, osc at Saint Therese from 11 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. I met some friends such as Sister Magdalena, SSPs who worked in Mexico City and knows very well Maryono, one Indonesian Xaverian student who studies theology in IFTIM, Mexico. There were about 60 people coming to this Mass. There was a celebration of birthday for Father Jack, c.m. and others who have birthday this month including myself. After the lunch, the Indonesian Catholic group of Chicago had meeting at Saint Therese. At 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. I did meditation with Agnes before the tabernacle. Normally, Father Michael does lead the meditation. Since he is not here today, so I led it as he told me last week. With the kindness of Mulianto, one of the Indonesian Catholic leaders in Chicago, I could go home at Hyde Park soon since I asked him favor to give us (Dharmawan and I) a ride. I returned home at 5.10 p.m. and Father Victor was very happy to see my arrival since he is waiting for me to cook for our community. Fortunately, from Chinatown I got some food, Chinese noodle that was given by Agnes. So, I just warmed it up together with Lasagna I have prepared this morning. In the evening I type this journal in order to keep my faithfulness in writing my story in this weekly journal. In the meditation today at Saint Therese, I was sleepy but after an hour meditation, I felt fresh and healthier than ever and my yesterday headache was gone.