Perhaps you seek a sanctuary in the heart of Jakarta. Look no further than Gereja Katolik St. Yohanes Bosco. This church stands as a testament to faith and community in Sunter Jaya.
Before 1980 Catholics in Sunter relied on the Katedral and St. Alfonsus Rodrigues parishes. Imagine attending church far from home. It took about ten years of effort. Finally, the Catholic community in Sunter got their own parish.
In 1989, the Parish of Santo Lukas was inaugurated by Archbishop Leo Sukoto. The parish was located in Sunter Utara. The Order of OFM Conventual shepherded the community.
The growing Catholic population soon outgrew the Santo Lukas Church building. It had been completed in 1993. Some members in Sunter Selatan began using the chapel at Wisma Salesian Don Bosco. It was closer to them. This marked the beginning of St. Yohanes Bosco Parish.
Let me tell you about key moments in the formation of St. Yohanes Bosco Parish. By 1992, the community in Sunter Selatan owned land on Jalan Taman Sunter Indah. Construction began in May 1994 when a building committee was appointed.
In 1995, the chapel at Wisma Salesian became a place of worship. After about five years, the building permit was finally obtained in 1999. The first stone was laid in early 2000. The parish building was blessed and inaugurated on January 31, 2001. Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja led the ceremony. He officially declared it the 54th parish in the Archdiocese of Jakarta.
Construction of the church building began a year later. It was completed within a year. Cardinal Darmaatmadja blessed the Gereja Katolik St. Yohanes Bosco.
In 2017, Gereja Katolik St. Yohanes Bosco hosted a concelebrated Mass. Bishops gathered to support the Gerakan Orang Tua Asuh untuk Seminari. This translates to the Foster Parents Movement for Seminarians.
Today, Gereja Katolik St. Yohanes Bosco offers daily Masses in the morning and evening. Services are held in Indonesian. There is also an English Mass at 10.30.
Take a moment to appreciate the exterior. Imagine the Porta Sancta during the Jubilee of 2025. Picture the Gateway of the Jubilee Year. Step inside. Notice the altar during Easter. Observe the interior of Gereja Katolik St. Yohanes Bosco.
The Gereja Katolik St. Yohanes Bosco stands as a beacon of faith. It embodies community spirit in Jakarta. Remember its journey from a small group to a vibrant parish.