Do you hear the echoes of history whispering through the walls of Gereja Katolik SILPSN? This Catholic church stands as a testament to faith. It shows resilience in Indonesia. Catholicism’s journey here began centuries ago. It started with Portuguese explorers seeking spices.
The Catholic Church in Indonesia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church. The Pope in Rome leads it spiritually. Catholicism is one of six approved religions in Indonesia. Islam, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are the others.
Official figures from 2018 state that Catholics make up 3.12 percent of Indonesia’s population. That is more than 8.3 million people. Indonesia is primarily Muslim. However, Catholicism dominates certain areas.
The Church is organized into one military ordinariate. It has 10 archdioceses and 28 dioceses. They are all members of the Indonesian Catholic Bishops Conference KWI. Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin from the Diocese of Bandung leads it. Several Catholic religious institutes are active here. These include the Jesuits. The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and the Divine Word Missionaries are also present.
Catholicism in Indonesia started in the 16th century. The Portuguese arrived seeking the Spice Islands. East Nusa Tenggara and South Papua are unique. Catholicism is the dominant faith there. Around 55% and 50% of their populations are Catholic. Significant Catholic populations also exist in North Sumatra. West Kalimantan, South Papua, South Sulawesi, Maluku, and Central Java have many Catholics. Muntilan and its surroundings are especially notable.
Italian Franciscan friar Mattiussi led the first Catholic mission in the 14th century. He visited Sumatra. He also visited Java and Banjarmasin in Borneo. This happened between 1318 and 1330. The Pope sent him to launch a mission into Asia. He departed from Padua in 1318. He crossed the Black Sea into Persia. Then he went to Calcutta, Madras, and Sri Lanka. Next, he headed to Nicobar Island and Sumatra. Before visiting Java and Banjarmasin. He returned to Italy in 1330. He went through Vietnam, China, and the Silk Road. The Javanese kingdom he mentioned was Majapahit. It was a Hindu-Buddhist kingdom. This mission was a pioneer. It gave the church information about Asia. The Catholic Church was not yet established. Hinduism and Buddhism were the religions of most people.
In the 16th century, the Portuguese captured Malacca in 1511. They sought spices. Catholic missionaries soon arrived. Francis Xavier worked in Ambon, Ternate, and Morotai in 1546–1547. Dominican missionaries converted many in Solor. Portugal was expelled from Ternate in 1574. Many Catholics in the northern Moluccas were killed. Some converted to Islam. The Dutch East India Company conquered Ambon in 1605. Catholics were forced to convert to Protestantism. This also happened in Manado and the Sangihe-Talaud Islands. Solor fell to the Dutch in 1613. Catholic mission activities declined in Flores and Timor. These areas were still under Portuguese rule.
In 1808, H.W. Daendels permitted freedom of worship in the Dutch Indies. This was mainly for European Catholics. Thomas Raffles consolidated this freedom.
From 1835, the Catholic Church was affiliated with the colonial state. Clergy received salaries. The government could reject church appointments. Clashes over policy led to the expulsion of many priests in 1846. In 1848, there were Catholic churches in only four centers.
Active mission work resumed in the second half of the 19th century. It was concentrated in specific areas. Larantuka in Flores was important. An 1859 treaty with Portugal guaranteed the Catholic Church’s freedom there. Bengkulu, Bangka, West Borneo, and islands south of New Guinea were also key. Other regions banned Catholic mission work. Many Batak people in North Sumatra adopted Catholicism. Authorities banned Catholic missionaries elsewhere in the province. In 1898, a mission program began in Muntilan. However, the first ethnic Javanese priest was not installed until 1926.
After Indonesian independence, the Church grew steadily. The Dutch and other Europeans were expelled. Catholicism and other religions grew significantly after the Overthrow of Sukarno in 1965.
As you stand before Gereja Katolik SILPSN, remember this rich tapestry of faith. A tapestry woven through centuries of exploration. It includes mission and perseverance in Indonesia.