The Province of Mary Immaculate in Indonesia was founded by friars from the former Italian Province of St. Anthony of Padua (Bologna). Today, the very young Province has eighty-seven solemnly professed members, five postulants in their first year of formation, fourteen postulants in their second year, two novices, and thirty-five clerical students in the post-novitiate.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026, was a special day for the clerical students of the post-novitiate. The day began with Mass at 6:30 a.m. in the chapel of the San Bonaventura post-novitiate house, located in the village of Sinaksak, near Pematangsiantar, Indonesia. The General Assistant for the Secular Franciscan Order, Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI, presided. On that day, the friar priests joined the Most Reverend Kornelius SIPAYUNG, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Medan, and all the priests of the archdiocese, for a day of continuing formation. The event concluded at 4:00 p.m., with the celebration of a Chrism Mass. Meanwhile, fourteen clerical students remained at the post novitiate house. The other twenty-one clerical students were away, serving at various parish churches for Holy Week. The remaining students took advantage of Friar Stefan’s presence to have a formation meeting.
Friar Stefan gave them a lecture on the theme: “Knowing St. Francis Better.” He highlighted the importance of the Jubilee Year and the involvement of all the friars in making the charism of St. Francis present through their own lives. He talked to the clerical students about Francis’ human journey. It became clear that today, St. Francis is a guiding figure for a wide range of groups and movements—traditionalists, nonconformists, socialists, and environmentalists—but above all for us, his friars. Society looks to us to become a good leaven, capable of fostering harmony, fraternity, and peace. Francis’ human journey represents a challenge for each of us, but also the certainty that following Christ is still possible today, despite trials and temptations.
On Wednesday, April 1, the OFS National Assistant for Indonesia, Friar Fictorium Natanael GINTING, presided over Mass with the clerical students present. After the liturgy, the students said goodbye to Friar Ștefan. The Rector of the post-novitiate house, Friar Longinus JUDUNG, thanked Friar Ștefan for his presentation to the clerical students.
Friar Yohanes Krisantus UNAB
