Here stands Gereja Santa Anna. This Catholic parish church has a rich history in Jakarta Timur Indonesia. Gereja Santa Anna is under the Archdiocese of Jakarta’s management. It serves as the Paroki Duren Sawit parish.
Gereja Santa Anna gets its name from Saint Anne. She was the mother of Mary. The church operates under the pastoral care of the Society of Jesus.
Initially, worshippers from Klender and Pondok Bambu gathered at Kapel Santa Maria Dipamarga. This chapel was in the Samadi Retreat House complex. Only residents of the complex used the chapel for worship at first. But during Christmas Eve in 1967, locals joined the services at Kapel Samadi. At that time, the area was part of the Matraman Parish. In 1972, the Klender Parish was formed from the Matraman Parish.
In 1973, the Archdiocese of Jakarta bought land in Bulak Jintung. This location was about 3 km from the Samadi Retreat House. The growing number of worshippers in the Pulo Gadung Industrial Area and Duren Sawit made Kapel Samadi too small. Around 1978, Pastor Antonius Maria van den Braak divided Klender Parish. He assigned areas to Paroki Pulomas and Paroki Rawamangun. This included areas around Pulo Gadung to Jatinegara Kaum and Jalan Raya Bekasi Timur.
The land purchased in 1973 was planned for a new church. It was to be named Santa Anna. The church’s location was within the Navy complex. The groundbreaking took place in October 1983. The construction was planned for 300 days. On September 2 1984, Archbishop of Jakarta Leo Soekoto inaugurated Gereja Santa Anna. R.A. Cypriana Hadiwijono, the wife of Minister of Public Housing Cosmas Batubara, also inaugurated the church.
The parish area includes the railway border in Cipinang. It covers Bintara, Pondok Kopi, Pondok Kelapa and Billy Moon. To celebrate Pastor Everardus Johannes Maria Wiegers’s golden jubilee, a Goa Maria was built. Pastor Wiegers dedicated it on August 15 1986.
On August 7 1994, a multipurpose building named Gedung Yos Sudarso was inaugurated. Bishop Soekoto named it after Commodore Yosafat Sudarso. Sudarso died in the Battle of Aru in the Arafura Sea. The street where Gereja Santa Anna is located is named after the Arafura Sea. Gereja Santa Anna has a 70 kg bell. Romo Alphonsus Martodihardjo led Gereja Santa Anna at that time. The bell hung temporarily and was only used for special ceremonies. In September 1997, Romo Damianus Ediwinarto wanted a permanent bell tower. But the construction was inactive for about four years. On July 10 2001, Romo Vincentius Suryatma Suryawiyata initiated the bell tower committee. Bishop Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja blessed the bell tower on July 13 2003.
On October 17 2004, Gereja Santa Anna installed a statue of Christ the King. It is located in the churchyard. Cardinal Darmaatmadja blessed it. This symbolized Gereja Santa Anna’s dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The statue also marked the 20th anniversary of Gereja Santa Anna since its inauguration in 1984. The church was renovated in 2008. Balconies and side terraces were added.
On Sunday, July 22 2001, at 7:05 AM, a bombing occurred at Gereja Santa Anna. The terrorist group was led by Noordin Mohammad Top. The bomb exploded during Pastor Vincentius Suryatma Suryawiyata’s homily. Five people died. Stained glass mosaics depicting the Creation shattered. The church’s ceiling collapsed. Some pews were thrown and broken. The explosion created a 50 cm wide and 40 cm deep hole. A Pietà statue was placed above the hole. On July 13 2003, Cardinal Darmaatmadja signed a plaque of concern. This was during the blessing of the bell tower.
Next to Gereja Santa Anna is the Strada school complex. It includes TK Strada Santa Anna, SD Strada Van Lith II and SMP Strada Santa Anna. The Duren Sawit Parish also has various Catholic educational institutions. The Samadi Center is in the Duren Sawit Parish. It was the origin of Gereja Santa Anna. Several monastic communities reside in the parish.
Gereja Santa Anna holds daily morning masses. Weekly Eucharistic celebrations are held on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. First Friday Masses are also held each month in the afternoon.
The history of Gereja Santa Anna is a testament to faith. It is a story of community. It shows resilience in the face of adversity. Gereja Santa Anna stands as a beacon of hope. It is a place of worship for many.