Indonesian bishops hold their own synod on family ‎

The Catholic Church of Indonesia is holding its Synod of Bishops on the family to locally assimilate the message of the world synod of Bishops on the family held in the Vatican Oct. 4-25.  The Nov. 2-6 synod in Bogor, West Java, is on the theme: "The Catholic family: The joy of the Gospel, family's call and mission in the church and Indonesian society."  About 500 people are participating in the five-day gathering.  The Indonesian Church has been holding synods every five years as Since 2000.   

Holy Family Father Hibertus Hartana, secretary of the Indonesian bishops' conference family commission, told UCANEWS at a press conference on Oct. 30 that the church hopes to develop "a pastoral movement to improve the lives of Catholic families."  Bishop Franciscus Kopong Kung of Larantuka, who participated in Vatican Synod said the Indonesian synod will provide the Church the chance to listen to the struggles families face.   "The Catholic Church wants to feel their challenges and struggles and to support and strengthen them … From there, we can produce something to address those needs," said the bishop, chairman of the conference's family commission.  Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, who also participated in the Vatican synod, said the Indonesian synod would highlight the best practices for Catholic families.  He said their bishops would be sharing some of the results of the Vatican synod with local participants.  (Source: UCAN)