A Church Story That Has A History With The Jakarta Flood

Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan along with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) conducted monitoring to a number of churches ahead of 2019 Christmas Eve.

The first church to visit was the Santo Kristofarus Catholic Church in Jakarta, Jalan Satria IV, Jelambar Village, Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta. When he got there, Anies talked about the flood problems that often inundate the church.

The Head Pastor of the St. Kristoforus Catholic Church, Father Serfi Fangohoei, said that this 56-year-old church is often flooded during the rainy season.

"Since four years ago, this church has never been visited by the governor. Before Mr. Anies came here, this church was always flooded," said Father Serfi in his remarks at the location, Tuesday, December 24.

A group of DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan while monitoring a church in Jakarta on Christmas Eve 2019 (Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI)

To prove this condition, the Church of St. Kristoforus management displays photos of churches that were flooded in the past few years through a large screen installed in a number of corners.

Meanwhile, Father Serfi told the origin of the name of the church, which is historically close to water (rivers). Therefore, the name Kristoforus is used as the name of the church in this Grogol area.

"Kristoforus is a saint who used to cross people during the big flood. He lived in the sewers. Hope the 12,000 parishioners of Kristoforus, (Pemprov DKI) can work together for our common good in this place," he explained.

Anies responded to Father Serfi's story in his speech. He said the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government would assist in planning the renovation of the St. Kristoforus church.

The former Minister of Education and Culture asked the Mayor of West Jakarta, Rustam Effendi, to simplify the licensing process for the renovation.

"We hope, to this parish, we also pray that the water does not enter again. Let it become a historical story that there was once a flood," said Anies.

"But, in this building later, the new parish, which has been renovated, Insyallah we hope that the story about floods (is) Jakarta is flood free, so that there will be no more stories about photos with that picture in the future," he added.

Furthermore, Anies explained why he and Forkopimda officials were monitoring Christmas Eve this year. He wants Jakarta to continue to build an atmosphere of diversity that is shady, safe and peaceful.

"Diversity is God's destiny, unity is a human endeavor. Therefore our part is to strive for unity, and that is also what we endeavor in Jakarta," he said.