A New Beginning

The story of vocations within the Church of Indonesia and how recent success has meant that Indonesia not only supplies its own priests but also sends them out to new missionary territories in other countries. The story of lay involvement with the Church and how that is changing the tasks of its priests and other leaders.

Materials

Videos:

A New Beginning

Website:

Magazine:

  • Missions Today (the magazine published by the Propagation of the Faith/English Canadian Branch. Online version.

 

Study Guide

Goal

The goal of this program is to introduce students to the presence of the Catholic Church in Indonesia though the eyes of some of its priests and other leaders. To see how the Church is succeeding with the number of priestly vocations includes meeting the challenges of a a changing laity.

Steps

1. Show this program A New Beginning

2. Ask students to form small groups to describe the following impressions from the video:

  • What does Indonesia look and sound like? Why would you like to visit?
  • Name some of the main characters and say what it is they are trying to do for the Church.
  • What have we learned about the Catholic Church in Indonesia? What have we learn about the deep faith of its priests and how it affects their ministry?
  • What are some of the new aspects of the Indonesian Church today? What did you know after viewing the DVD that you didn’t know before?
  • Give three reasons why Canadian Catholics should support the work of the Church in Indonesia.

3. Option for Take-Home Assignment

Via the Internet find more facts about:

  • The Church in Indonesia, is population, number of priests, religious brothers and sisters.
  • Locate areas in Indonesia where the majority of its Catholics live. Give a brief account of their history.
  • What is the economic situation for Indonesia’s Catholics?
  • Describe how students can help Propagation of the Faith support Catholics and their work in Indonesia

In groups, make presentations to the class about any or all of the above.