Consider the year 1947. The Catholic community in Tanah Tinggi needed a place to worship. This is the story of Gereja Santo Paskalis.
Initially a small station of Kramat Parish, Gereja Santo Paskalis began humbly. Mass was held in an unlikely location. It was a canteen used by Dutch soldiers. This canteen was located on Jalan Petruk. Pastor Paternus Nicholas Joannes Cornelius Geise led these early services. He was a Fransiscan.
Through fundraising, the community built a chapel and rectory in 1947. This new space was on Jalan Tanah Tinggi. At the time, it was known as Gereja Santo Paskalis, Tanah Tinggi Parish.
By 1952, the church had grown. A simple building was constructed. The church celebrated its feast day on May 17. The blessing of the building occurred on May 18, 1952. Vikaris Apostolik Djakarta Petrus Johannes Willekens blessed it.
The parish continued to expand. Various church activities and organizations formed. Even a Strada School was established. Later, in 1977-1978, a chapel was built in Serdang.
A significant turning point came in 1980. The process began to obtain a building permit. The goal was to construct a new church. It would be on the site of a former ice factory on Jalan Letjen Suprapto. The permit was finally issued in December 1985.
On June 17, 1987, the new Gereja Santo Paskalis was inaugurated. Uskup Agung Jakarta Leo Soekoto officiated the ceremony. Renovations took place from 2008 to early 2009.
Gereja Santo Paskalis features several important religious elements. A grotto dedicated to Santa Maria degli Angeli exists here. A statue of Santo Paskalis Baylon stands in the courtyard. He is the patron saint of the church. A bell tower also stands here. Uskup Agung Jakarta Ignatius Kardinal Suharyo inaugurated the Paskalis Adoration Room on October 9, 2022.
Inside Gereja Santo Paskalis, statues represent Catholic saints. Near the sanctuary, you’ll find statues of Bunda Maria and Santo Antonius Padua.
Today, Gereja Santo Paskalis holds daily and weekly masses. Weekly masses take place on Saturday evenings and four times on Sundays. Daily masses are held in the morning. Special services include Friday Masses. All liturgies are in Bahasa Indonesia.
Gereja Santo Paskalis stands as a testament to faith. It reflects community spirit. From its humble beginnings in a canteen. It has grown into a significant landmark in Jakarta. It continues to serve its parish with devotion.