“Santo Thomas Rasul, pray for us.” These words echo in my mind as we stand before Gereja Katolik St. Thomas Rasul. This church is more than just a building. It is a testament to faith and community.
Gereja Katolik St. Thomas Rasul is located in West Jakarta. It serves as a vital center for Catholic worship. The church falls under the Archdiocese of Jakarta. It is known locally as Paroki Bojong Indah.
The story of Gereja Katolik St. Thomas Rasul begins in 1979. Catholics in the Bojong Indah area gathered for worship. Initially, they met at the Trinitas and Lamaholot Schools. As the community grew, the need for a dedicated parish became clear.
In 1981, Archbishop Leo Soekoto established Paroki Santo Thomas Rasul Bojong Indah. Father Peter John McLaughlin led the first parish council. In 1983, a committee formed to oversee the church’s construction.
The committee first acquired land in Klingkit. However, construction there proved impossible. Later, land was purchased on Jalan Kacang Panjang Raya. This site housed the pastorate and committee secretariat. Father Lodewijk Bambang Santosa Wiryowardoyo, the Parish Priest, resided here. Worship services also began in the Taman Kota area.
Finally, in 1985, a suitable plot was found on Jalan Pakis Raya. This breakthrough followed negotiations with Metropolitan Development. To mark the start of construction, a simple shelter was built. The shelter was made from materials salvaged from the renovation of Tarumanegara University. Bamboo was the primary material. It earned the name “Gereja Bambu” or Bamboo Church.
On October 9, 1988, Archbishop Soekoto laid the first stone for Gereja Katolik St. Thomas Rasul. Actual construction was delayed. It waited for the completion of the Gereja Trinitas building. Attention then turned to building the Gua Maria. This Marian grotto features a Pieta statue. It was named Goa Maria Bunda Penebus and is located behind the church.
Construction of the church building began in 1990. Architects Johan Gunawan and Irene Gunawan designed the church. By April 1992, the physical structure was complete. The church could accommodate around 1,000 people. The first service held in the new building was Palm Sunday Mass in April 1992. On August 23, 1992, Archbishop Leo Soekoto officially inaugurated Gereja Katolik St. Thomas Rasul.
Today, Gereja Katolik St. Thomas Rasul continues to thrive. Daily Masses are held in the morning. Services are conducted in Indonesian. On the first Saturday of each month, an English Mass is held. Sunday services also take place at the Notre Dame School in Puri Indah.
Notice the statue of St. Thomas the Apostle. Take a moment to appreciate the Gua Maria Bunda Penebus. Inside, admire the church’s interior. Gereja Katolik St. Thomas Rasul stands as a beacon of faith. It is a place of community and devotion in the heart of West Jakarta.