Gereja St. Andreas

Amidst the vibrant tapestry of Jakarta, Gereja St. Andreas stands as a testament to faith and community. Gereja St. Andreas, also known as Gereja Paroki Santo Andreas, Kedoya, isn’t just a building; it’s a living story etched in brick and mortar. Originally, the area belonged to the Grogol Parish. But the burgeoning Catholic community in Sunrise Garden and Green Ville in the late 1970s needed a spiritual home of their own. So, in 1982, the journey to establish Gereja St. Andreas began. First, services were held in a parishioner’s home, then in a classroom at the KPS Sunrise Garden Christian Elementary School. By 1986, the community shuffled between the Indonesian Christian Church on Surya Utama Street and the St. Andreas Kindergarten, both in Sunrise Garden. Finally, on November 26, 1986, the Kedoya Parish officially came into being, with Father Ignatius Soesilo Soewarna, M.S.C. as its first pastor. The following year, construction began on the church itself in Green Garden. A temporary structure was completed in June 1989, designed by Han Awal Architects with an organic concept inspired by Notre Dame du Haut. The church’s final design is unique. Its asymmetrical structure earned the construction model first prize in a Japanese competition. It has no central point of symmetry, creating a distinctive visual experience. Gereja St. Andreas was officially inaugurated on November 6, 1994, by Jakarta’s West Mayor, Sutardjianto, and blessed by Archbishop Soekoto. Inside, statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Virgin Mary grace the sanctuary, fostering devotion among the faithful. A Pieta resides at the back of the church, and a statue of St. Andrew, the church’s patron saint, stands proudly in the courtyard. A serene Grotto of Mary and a poignant Stations of the Cross further enrich the spiritual atmosphere. Beyond its architectural marvel, Gereja St. Andreas continues to serve its community. In 2003, the St. Thomas Aquinas Building, dedicated to educational purposes for the St. Andreas School, was completed. Later, the Siti Mariam Hall was added to accommodate parking and events. As recently as 2023, Gereja St. Andreas hosted the GOTAUS Mass, attended by 35 bishops from across Indonesia, underscoring its significance within the Catholic community. Gereja St. Andreas stands not just as a place of worship, but as a beacon of resilience, growth, and community.