Pastor Invites Mimika Catholics To Solidarity Against Marginalized Groups

The parish priest of Saint Stephen Sempan Timika Maximilianus Dora OFM washes the feet of 12 Catholic figures during the celebration of Maundy Thursday Mass (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The parish priest of St. Stefanus Sempan Timika, Maximilianus Dora OFM, invites Catholics in the area to be more solidarity with others who are considered as marginal groups and do not have access to public policy decisions.

"We should build and increase care and concern for other people, especially those who suffer and are in need in their lives, women, poor people, people who are powerless," he said as quoted by Antara, Friday.

According to him, everyone has an individual dimension of life, but at the same time it also has a social dimension to always be sensitive to the lives of others.

Therefore, he said, the excess talents and abilities possessed by a person should be shared for the common good so that other people can also feel the happiness of his life.

"Don't build an egocentric, individualistic and materialistic life that will actually close yourself off with the circumstances of other people in the environment around us," he said.

Catholics in Mimika since last Thursday entered the celebration of Holy Week which began with Maundy Thursday celebrations followed by Good Friday, Easter Night (Saturday), and Easter Day (Sunday).

Maundy Thursday Mass at the Catholic Church of Saint Stephen Sempan took place twice in the evening and in the evening attended by thousands of people, despite heavy rains.

In a celebration to commemorate Jesus' last supper with his disciples, Father Maximilianus washed the feet of 12 local Catholic leaders. Jesus did a similar thing to the 12 apostles at the last supper, as a symbol of the spirit of serving.

As in the Catholic Church of St. Stephen Sempan, the Mass on Maundy Thursday at the Three Kings Cathedral of Timika was attended by thousands of people.

The committee and church administrators prepared tents and chairs outside the church building to accommodate the crowds who wanted to attend worship services during Holy Week.