5660(II)_ADMA Spring in Indonesia - new Center in Jakarta
By Sr. Ernestina de Jesus, FMA
Jakarta, Indonesia, 30 July 2021 -- For the upcoming EAO regional ADMA Congress any member of the Salesian Family is welcome! 11 years after the first EAO ADMA Congress in Paranaque (2010), there are many more newly born local ADMA (Association of Mary Help of Christians) centres. Among the 6 new countries on the ADMA world map is also Indonesia. A few years after the first ADMA in Sumba island (2.5 hrs flight from Jakarta) a second group is coming into life in Jakarta - Parish of St John Bosco, thanks to the apostolic ardour of one FMA sister:
"We have started the formation of the first group of our Aspirants just few months ago. In our formation talks we just arrive at art 3 (ADMA Regulations, ed. 2003). Our ordinary appointment is on every 3rd Friday: we have the formation for this new candidates.
Every Saturday we have the Rosary together - also inviting some SDB, FMA and our friends to join us on the Google meet (digital platform). Also the SDB Provincial, Fr Andy Wong, wants to join us and invite him to give us a Goodnight after the Rosary. So our 12 ADMA candidates - aspirants are getting familiar not only with Marian devotion, but also with our Salesian traditions - what is a "Goodnight". In this way they can understand little by little our Salesian family traditions.
As you know, the Covid19 pandemic has hit our country of Indonesia very much. But we started just amidst this pandemic, also with our Rosary 'Marathon' prayers and with our ADMA group formation. With our small contribution we may become one small but meaningful part of the large body of Christ and of the Salesian family.
As you see from the photos, our group is not very large and still restricted to come together due to the pandemic situation. We are glad for the accompaniment by the Salesian priests in Sunter-Jakarta. We hope slowly with our final translation of the ADMA Regulation into Bahasa Indonesia to share our experience far and wide.
And last but not least: thanks to the preparation for this EAO ADMA Congress, we are happy to get inspired by already established ADMA experience from other East Asian countries! Viva Maria!"