ASIA/INDONESIA - A new Archbishop in Semarang, ready for Asia Youth Day

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Semarang (Agenzia Fides) - Fr. Robertus Rubiyatmoko will be consecrated Archbishop of Semarang, in Central Java, on May 19, and the first major event that will accompany the Pastor of the local community is Asia Youth Day, AYD that the Archdiocese of Semarang will host three months later: AYD, event to be held in Yogyakarta from 30 July to 9 August, will gather over 3,000 young Catholics from 29 Asian countries and focuses on the theme "Joyful Asian youth: Living the Gospel in multicultural Asia".
As Fr. Robertus Rubiyatmoko explains in an interview with Agenzia Fides, the theme is very much in tune with the pastoral plan of the Archdiocese of Semarang, which intends to "bring the civilization of love in Indonesian society". "We hope that the Catholic youth in the Archdiocese of Semarang and all Asian countries can appreciate and live in multicultural societies with courage and are present within those contexts to bring the light of Christ, so that He truly lives in a plural society", says the elected Archbishop. Fr. Rubiyatmoko believes it is important that "young Catholics develop good cooperation", that keep in touch with each other and open up to young people of other religions, in the spirit of sharing the good with all young people of good will.
Speaking about his upcoming episcopal consecration, the priest explained that he has not chosen the episcopal motto yet". "I expect a generous gift from the Spirit of God – he notes – so that it gives me the grace to be able to carry out the responsibility as Pastor every day according to God's heart and in accordance with the mission of the universal Church", notes the priest who is now judicial Vicar of the archdiocese.
The Archbishop-elect thanked his predecessor, Archbishop Johannes Maria Pujasumarta, who died prematurely in 2015, and "laid the foundations for the Pastoral care in the community of Semarang, formulating some five-year guidelines". In the first five years, the focus is "to create a civilization of love in Indonesia, helping to build an inclusive society". "Despite my human weaknesses, nothing is impossible to God. I trust in the gift of his grace to do His will, and I trust in the unceasing prayer of the baptized for my service as Pastor", said Fr. Rubiyatmoko. (PP-PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/03/2017)


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