“Santo Servatius,” a whispered prayer escapes my lips as I approach this unique church. This is Gereja Katolik St. Servatius. It stands in Kampung Sawah. This church is not just a place of worship. It is a living testament to the blend of Betawi culture and Catholic faith.
Let’s step back in time to the late 19th century. Kampung Sawah was a dark jungle. Most residents had embraced Islam. Yet, animist rituals persisted. The Betawi people, a mix of cultures and Malay speakers, inhabited this area.
Before Catholicism arrived, a Protestant named F. L. Anthing entered Betawi culture. He established a congregation. Anthing combined cultural rites with Christianity. This emphasized mysticism. However, this syncretism faded over time. Some still use the Our Father’s prayer in Betawi to ward off spirits.
Gereja Katolik St. Servatius began as a splinter from Anthing’s Protestant Church. In 1895, the Protestant congregation split. There were three factions. One faction chose Roman Catholicism. Guru Nathanael led this group. He sought help from the Jakarta Cathedral. On October 6, Pastor Schweitz baptized 18 children. This marked the birth of the Kampung Sawah Catholics. It was the initial name for Gereja Katolik St. Servatius.
Now, let’s talk about Bebaritan. It was an animist ritual for safety from spirits. Residents brought food from their crops to haunted places. They mixed the food on banana leaves. The ritual leader chanted. Afterward, everyone ate together accompanied by Betawi dances and music.
The original Bebaritan ritual is gone. The last one was in 1963 or 1964. It even included Dangdutan music. In 1936, the earth alms ceremony began at Gereja Katolik St. Servatius. Pastor Oscar Cremers blessed the rice harvest. This was a thanksgiving. This event became the earth alms ritual at St. Servatius Parish. The earth alms ritual is held every May 13.
Initially, the ritual was simple. It involved blessing the harvest. A portion was shared with the penderep. Penderep are those who help harvest crops. Church members also offered produce. Coconuts, durian, jackfruit, and rice were given during mass.
In 1996, six Betawi men and women became members of the Saint Servatius kinship. This revived an old tradition. It expressed faith through outward forms. The kinship serves and promotes devotion to Saint Servatius. Relics of the Saint would be placed in the church. Members wear Betawi clothing. Men wear black caps, komprang pants, and a machete. Women wear white veils and batik sarongs. The tanjidor music corps performs. Congregational singing uses Betawi tunes. The ceremony ends with a meal in the churchyard. It is held at the Servas warung across from the church. The inauguration coincides with the earth alms ritual. This is a hallmark of the parish.
Today, every May 13, Gereja Katolik St. Servatius holds the earth alms ritual. A people’s feast occurs during and after mass. They share Kampung Sawah specialties. Abug cakes and boiled cassava are served. Benyamin Sueb songs enliven the event. The earth alms ritual includes making dodol. This dodol is stirred for seven hours. Cultural requirements guide the process. They tap the cauldron three times while requesting the dodol to finish on time. If it fails, they throw it into the river. They control the dough so that it does not become runny. The oldest members taste the kole. Rambutan wood fuels the fire. The fire remains small and constant.
Gereja Katolik St. Servatius stands as a symbol. It is a symbol of cultural harmony. It embodies the spirit of Kampung Sawah. It is a unique blend of faith and tradition.