Receiving Rp1 Billion Assistance From Minister Of Religion Yaqut, The Archbishop Of Jakarta Called The Cathedral Church A Role Of Brotherhood

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas during a visit to the Jakarta Cathedral Church also provided assistance for renovation, Monday (10/11/2022). ANTARA

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas handed over assistance to the Church of Santa Perawan Maria Borne to Heaven, the Cathedral of Jakarta Paroki, the Archdiocese of Jakarta, amounting to Rp. 1 billion. This assistance was handed over directly to the Archbishop of Jakarta, Ignatius Suharyo. "Today I handed over aid to the Cathedral Church. This assistance comes from the budget of the Directorate General of Catholic Community Guidance, Ministry of Religion in 2022," Yaqut said at the Jakarta Cathedral, quoted from Antara, Monday, October 10. The Jakarta Cathedral Church is listed as a cultural heritage building. The Minister of Religion hopes that assistance can be used to increase the comfort of the people in worship and maintain aesthetics and interiors. "Aid is provided for the purposes of procuring sound equipment and visuals that do not damage interior construction, according to needs. This is expected to have an impact on the comfort and sincerity of the people in worship," he said. According to him, the Ministry of Religion has five echelon I-level work units and one center tasked with providing guidance to the community in terms of religion. At the Ministry of Religion, there are Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance, Catholic Guidance, Christian Guidance, Hindu Guidance, and Buddhist Guidance. In addition, there is a Konghucu Religious Guidance and Education Center. Each of these work units has a house of worship assistance program, both mosques, churches, monasteries, temples, and pagodas. "Regarding assistance for Catholic churches or other places of worship, the process must be easy. The requirements and procedures for submitting must also be clear. This is to make it easier for the community," said Yaqut. Meanwhile, Father the Principal of the Cathedral, Father Hani Rudi Hartoko, promised to take advantage of aid as needed. According to him, the Cathedral Church still requires light procedures that are in accordance with the interior characteristics of the Church with European neo-gotik architecture. "The completeness of the voting and visuals to be purchased have been chosen in terms of quality and installation that are not destructive," said Father Hani. The Archbishop of Jakarta, Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo, said that the Jakarta Cathedral Church continues to improve in revitalizing its interior and exterior. Because, apart from being a place of worship, the Cathedral Church is also opened as a tourist attraction for the public. The cathedral church, he said, was not only a place of spiritual development for the people. The church also plays a role in growing brotherhood among the nation's children and the people's love for the country. "We have a responsibility to take care of and develop the spirit of love for the country and the character of caring for others in our respective fields of duty," he said. The Jakarta Cathedral Church began construction on 1891 and was inaugurated on April 21, 1901 under the name Santa Virgin Maria Church in Lift to Heaven. The Cathedral Church is connected to the Istiqlal Mosque through the Silaturahmi Tunnel. The underground tunnel, which was inaugurated on September 21, 2021, is connected to the Istiqlal Mosque parking area which can accommodate 500 cars, so it is hoped that it will make it easier for both houses of worship to use parking lots together, especially during religious holidays.