A towering testament to faith stands before you. This is Gereja Santo Leo Agung a parish church in East Jakarta. Its story is one of resilience and unwavering devotion.
Originally part of the Santa Anna Church in Duren Sawit the Jatiwaringin area yearned for its own place of worship. Discussions began in October 1988. The dream of a church in Jatibening led to land acquisition in August 1989. A building committee formed.
However the path to building Gereja Santo Leo Agung was not easy. The application for construction faced resistance. Local residents voiced objections in September 1991. Even the head of the village withdrew initial approval. A subsequent application was rejected.
Undeterred Archbishop Leo Soekoto appointed Father F.X. Pranateseputra to oversee Wisma Leo in Jatiwaringin. He was tasked with establishing a new parish in Jatibening. Jatibening became a station of Santa Angela. It later achieved parish status in October 1992. Early masses were held in a tent.
Further attempts to obtain building permits from the Bekasi Regional Government failed. In September 1995 tragedy struck. The front of the FCJM convent a temporary worship space was burned down. Despite setbacks a temporary church was built. It was a simple structure.
On September 17 1996 this temporary church was also burned down. This event became known as the Gray September Incident. Miraculously some items survived. These included a consecrated host pieces of a statue of the Virgin Mary and a hymn book.
The community persevered. They held masses in a tent within the Kodam Jatiwaringin complex. The pastoral care of Gereja Santo Leo Agung transitioned to the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
Finally in 2016 construction began. The church was blessed in December 2018 by Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo. In May 2024 Cardinal Suharyo blessed a Grotto of Mary Mother of the Redeemer.
Gereja Santo Leo Agung stands as a powerful symbol. It represents the enduring faith of its community. It shows the resilience in the face of adversity. This church is a beacon of hope. It continues to serve its faithful parishioners. It remains a vibrant hub of spiritual life in East Jakarta.