“Another church?” you might think. But Gereja St. Damian is more than just a building. It is a testament to faith and community on Batam Island.
Gereja St. Damian started as Paroki Beato Damian. This happened because Damian de Veuster SS.CC was still considered Beato. The church was officially inaugurated on June 11 1995 by Mgr. Hilarius Moa Nurak SVD. He was the Bishop of Pangkal Pinang.
In 2009 a change occurred. Beato Damian was canonized as Santo Damian. On October 11 2009 the parish name changed. It became Paroki Santo Damian.
The parish covers a wide area. It includes Bengkong, Nongsa and Batam Centre sub-districts. Pulau Todak also falls within its boundaries. The border with Paroki Santo Petrus Lubukbaja is Jalan Yos Sudarso. This is a major road.
Gereja St. Damian has grown significantly. As of 2010 it consisted of one station and 28 territorial groups. Within these groups were about 98 KBG. KBG stands for Komunitas Basis Gerejani. The community had about 6500 members.
Mass schedules vary. Daily masses are held on Mondays at 18.00. Masses are also held Tuesday through Thursday at 05.30. Fridays have masses at 18.30 except for the first Friday. The first Friday mass is at 19.00. Saturday mornings have a mass at 05.30. Saturday evenings have mass at 18.00. Sunday offers several options at 06.00 08.00 10.00 and 18.00.
The church has a website. You can visit santodamian.com for more information. Gereja St. Damian stands as a beacon of faith. It is a testament to the dedication of its community. It shows their commitment to spiritual growth and togetherness. It is a place where faith and community intertwine. This creates a vibrant and supportive environment for all who enter its doors.