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Oblate priest’s service inspires young people PDF Print E-mail
Written by UCAN - Indonesia, Cilacap   
Thursday, 28 January 2010 00:00
More than a hundred Catholic youths from across Indonesia say they are inspired to serve the poor after hearing about the missionary work of an Irish Oblate priest.

The young people, aged 15 to 31, learned about Father Charles Patrick Burrows’ service to Indonesians during a recent program held at St. Stephanus Church in Cilacap district, Central Java.

Father Burrows arrived as a parish priest in Cilacap in 1973. In 1976, the Oblate missioner founded the Social Foundation for Welfare Promotion that has managed irrigation, public housing, road building and other labor-intensive projects. He has also established several schools for poor children in the district.

The recent program, with the theme “Following the Track of a Missioner Who Loves Poor People,” was to mark Father Burrows’ 40th priesthood anniversary.

Tarsisius Roy Syahputra, from Tarakan’s St. Mary Immaculate Church in East Kalimantan province, told UCA News he was very impressed by the priest and what he had done in the area.

“When Father Burrows first came to nearby Ujungalang, he talked to villagers who faced transportation problems,” said the 19-year-old boy.

At that time, the village was surrounded by a mangrove-fringed coastal lagoon. The priest oversaw the building of a dam over which a road was built to connect the houses, thus solving transport problems in the village.
‘I will share this experience with youths’

Syahputra said he would be excited to share about what he has learned about Father Burrows. “I will share this experience with fellow young Catholics in my parish. We will find out what we can do for people living in our village,” he continued.

Pricilia Sanjaya from Banten’s Trinity Church of Cengkareng said the program helped open her eyes. “Father Burrows serves not only Catholics but also people of other religions,” she told UCA News.

“Now I want to make my life more meaningful. I want to follow Father Burrows’ example in serving poor people,” the 23-year-old said. She said she plans to help children in orphanages around Jakarta.

During the two-day program, the young people joined in a dialogue session with Father Burrows himself. Other Oblate priests as well as Mohammad Taufick, chairman of the Interreligious Communication Forum (FKUB) in Cilacap district, also attended the session.

Taufick praised Father Burrows for his work. “He is a Catholic priest, but he put aside money from his foundation to build a mosque,” he told the youths.

Speaking with UCA News, Father Burrows said he hoped the gathering instilled into young people’s hearts a missionary spirit. “If they want to be priests or nuns, well, this is good. As laypeople, however, they should have the missionary spirit too.”

At least, he added, young people “can make this world more comfortable to live in for everyone.”
 
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