A group of nuns in Indonesia has been promoting the religious and consecrated life to young people by sharing stories and “secrets” about life in the convent.
In predominantly Muslim Indonesia, most Catholics have no idea what is “consecrated life” all about and how the religious, especially nuns, nurture their vocation.
Through testimonial stories, a group of nuns in the Diocese of Ketapang in the province of West Kalimantan share the religious life’s “secrets” with young people from remote parishes.
Sister Anns of the Sisters of Divine Providence said the nuns have to travel far to meet with the youth.
“Our young people have shown strong interest to the religious life and how it is practiced behind the convent’s doors,” shared Maria Rosa of the St. Peter and St. Paul’s Sungai Daka Parish Church.
Rosa organized the social gathering in her parish for young people from four nieghboring parishes that are located in interior territories..
“The youth are showing strong interest to know better about religious life,” she said.
Rosa said the “secret” stories shared by Sisters Ignasia and Theresia of the Sisters of Divine Providence have attracted interest from the youth.
In other areas, such as in Surakarta in Central Java, vocation promotions and outreach programs are being done in partnership with seminarians who have their own “live-in programs” in communities
In Malang, visits are facilitated to the Augustinian’s Sumber Sentosa Hospital in Tumpang, a suburb in East Java, that showcases what the religious nuns are doing in the field of health service.
