During the 1990s, in my former parish of Manning, I instructed, baptised, received into the Church and confirmed some 60 young people, mostly students at Curtin University or other educational colleges, from Indonesia or other parts of South East Asia.
This special pastoral work introduced me to many new friends. It also created the need for a support group to help with the religious instruction as well as in godparenting.
Among those involved in god-parenting were the Darmagos, Handojos, Tandionos, Sunaryos, Hendartos, Sianniwatys, Siaputras etc.
Through these new friendships, I was invited to visit Indonesia for the first time in 1997; I visited again in 1999. After that I kept up my pastoral visitations every two years. Over the years I have seen the contrasts between the rich, the poor and the poorest of the poor. There is no middle class in Indonesia.
I made my sixth visit for a wedding reception at the Sheraton Hotel Grand Ballroom for Siemen and Sandy Ardina on July 11. Five hundred people were invited, but Catholics were in a minority.
The wedding ceremony with a nuptial mass took place on May 16 in St Kieran’s Church, Osborne Park. It had been preceded by the Baptism and Confirmation of Siemen on May 9.
At the reception, video footage of Siemen and Sandy’s courtship and Nuptial Mass was displayed on a big television screen. That was evangelisation.
Having to give a reception speech about Christian marriage in a Muslim country meant I was a bit nervy, but I was applauded.
To say thank you, I bowed to all present and assured them that all the angels in heaven and earth were very happy for Siemen and Sandy.
In reply, all their own beautifully dressed young angels jumped up onto the stage and danced and sang for joy.