WHAT A DAY for International Pastoral Community of Bible Centre, Sukajadi, Batam. Fr. Javier Alvares Osorio, SSCC, the General Superior of Missionaries of Sacred Heart of Jesus on Mary visits and celebrates Sunday Mass with the international community, Sunday, July 5, 2015. Coming with him is Fr. Nugroho Krisusanto, SSCC, the provincial superior of SSCC Indonesia, accompanied by Fr. Valentinus Sedu Ritan, SSCC. Meanwhile, two Filipino Somascan missionaries are also present, i.e. Fr. Javier San Jose and Fr. Junar Inurte. Fr. Inurte is resided in Maumere, Flores, in Somascan formation House at Misir, Diocese of Maumere. Concelebrated by Fr. Aurelius Pati Soge, SVD, this Sunday worship turns out to be an extraordinary mission animation.

Extraordinary message from ordinary people

"Jesus was on ordinary man", says Fr. Osorio in his homily, "therefore his fellow villagers did not respect him, as they knew who his mother was, who his relatives were, what his profession was. He was just one of them, nothing special. But as they refused to let him proclaim the Good News to them, they failed to understand the message of renewal brought to them by Jesus. The Lord uses ordinarymmen to do extraordinary things for His people."

SSCC Ministries Seminar

In his brief information, Fr. Nugroho Krisusanto, the Provincial Superior of SSCC Indonesia, tells the congregation, that currently SSCC missionaries are holding a seminar on SSCC ministries, attended by missionaries from Asia and Polynesia, at Oasis Centre, SSCC Retreat Housed, Tanjung Piayu, Batam. Twelve SSCC sisters also present at this particular seminar, along with 29 missionaries. Apart from this seminar, the Fr. Osorio also received first profession of nine SSCC novices on Friday, July 3, 2015, at St. Damian Church, Bengkong. For Fr. Krisusanto, it is a happy coincidence, because the novices professed their first vows to their General Superior himself, attended by many missionary brothers and sisters from several countries, which makes the celebration an international picture of the whole society. Meanwhile, Fr. Javier San Jose, the Somascan priest, briefly introduces this relatively new missionary society, Somascan Order, which was founded by St. Jerome Emiliani (1486-1537) in 1528 in Somascan, Italy. The order focuses on ministry for the poor and marginalized, such as orphans, apart from parish ministry. In Indonesia, Somascan Order has a formation house in Misir, Maumere, Flores, headed by Fr. Junar Inurte. In his words of thanks, Fr. Pati Soge, the chaplain of International Pastoral Community, underlines the importance of having such an extraordinary occasion like this, as a part of doing mission animation for the congregation, so people around are aware with the missionary responsibility they might have to take part in certain stage of their life.

Ajo's Family Farewell

On the same occasion, two of our long time volunteers for reading ministry, Ajo David Thomas and Susan Varghese of Indian origin, bid their farewell to the International Pastoral Community. The couple, along with their daughter, Sania Ajo Thomas, are long time worshipers in the Bible Centre, for the last ten years. As an act of appreciation, the family is awarded with Piagam Penghargaan (the certificate of appreciation), for the services they have rendered to the community. The certificate is written in Indonesian just to remind them that Indonesia remains a part of the history of the family life. Presenting the certificate to the couple, Fr. Pati Soge expresses his gratitude on behalf of the whole community and wishes them well for their life and future. Adding to this, Mr. Danee So and Mr. Hendra Sunarya, head servants of the community, hand a simple present. Their departure seems to be a common experience for the international community like this, but it will significantly influence some sections in the ministries, such as reading ministry, Bible Study and Divine Mercy devotions, etc. Children ministry is also affected as Sania is a committed and active member as reader and choir member. All the best for the family future.