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INDONESIA: New printing press helps spread the timeless Faith
By John Newton
Trainee catechists in Indonesia, preparing to spread the Faith.
Aid to the Church in Need has come to the aid of a diocese in Indonesia having problems producing catechetical materials.
The charity responded to an urgent request from Fr Augustus Habur of the Catechetical Commission of Ruteng to help replace a printing machine which was falling apart after nearly 50 years of service
Fr Habur, the Commission director, wrote: "We face the problem of how to buy a new one, because of lack of funds. We really need your support for this project."
Despite having been repaired numerous times over the years, their printing machine – which was built in 1964 – was not only breaking down, but it was difficult to obtain new parts for it.
Although Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, Ruteng diocese is located on the island of Flores, where more than 93 percent of the local populace is Catholic – meaning catechetical materials are vital to the life of the Church.
Diocesan figures state that last year there were 673,596 baptised Catholics out of 717,000 inhabitants.
Levels of poverty are high in the eastern part of Indonesia meaning the diocese was unable to afford the cost of a new press.
With a working printing machine being essential for the Catechetical Commission to continue its work supporting religious education in schools and catechesis in parishes, Aid to the Church in Need responded to their plea with £6,750 towards the £8,275 total for a new machine.
The Catechetical Commission produces more than 41,000 copies of different catechetical materials for teachers and catechists each year.
Ruteng diocese's 77 parishes – each of which has at least 30 volunteer catechists teaching the Faith to everyone from children to adults – rely on the Commission's books to help instruct the faithful.
Annual publications include 10,000 Catechetical books for adults produced every Lent and Advent. They also print 8,000 catechetical books aimed at young people, as well as another 8,000 books for children.
And they are responsible for various other publications for the diocese, including collections of Sunday homilies, church bulletins – including children's bulletins – and other materials for church events, such as Easter cards.
Expressing his gratitude to Aid to the Church in Need, Fr Augustus Habur wrote: "Thank you very much for your kindness and your support for the Catechetical Commission of Reuteng diocese. May God bless you."