Everywhere: MSC Indonesia Brothers’ Meeting

The MSC Brothers’ Meeting for the Province of Indonesia will be held from 7 to 13 July 2025 at the MSC Pineleng Postulate in Manado, Indonesia. This gathering reflects a shared desire within the Congregation, driven by an awareness of the great mission, so that ‘The Sacred Heart of Jesus may be known and loved everywhere!’

The meeting involved 18 MSC Brothers from the Indonesian Province. However, several Brothers could not attend. The meeting was attended by the General Leadership, represented by Fr. Bram Tulusan MSC (Assistant III to the General Leader) and Br. Simon Lumpini (Assistant IV to the General Leader) via Zoom, along with the MSC Indonesia Provincial Leadership Council.

The theme of the meeting was: ‘Rooted in Spirit, Growing in Time!’ The meeting process used the communal Wisdom method. The Brothers were invited to enter into inner silence and then share their experiences in ministry.

The first day started with a retreat led by Fr. Yongky Wawo (MSC Assistant IV Provincial Leader). The theme of the gathering was ‘Becoming an integrative MSC in a fluid society.’ This theme was chosen based on our current reality, where Brothers come from the baby boomer generation and younger. In his encyclical Delixit Nos, the Pope reminds us that the problems from that era still persist, especially in a fluid world, where everything is easily changeable and people lose their inner principles. The intellect is more prominent than the heart. This is also highlighted in Delixit Nos no.12. The world today is becoming increasingly heartless, and this presents a challenge for us as missionaries in this era.

In the following session, P. Bram Tulusan MSC (Assistant III General Leader), gave a presentation on the results of the MSC General Chapter. The MSC Brothers of Indonesia do not walk alone but in unity as a Mondial Order. Based on the results of the General Chapter, this is the first time our Order has had two Brothers in the General Council in Rome. One important point from the General Chapter that needs to be disseminated is the four movements of the heart, namely, encounter, intimacy, conversion, and mission. These four movements of the heart should not be unfamiliar to all of us who live a spiritual life. These four movements are interrelated.

The second day of the session was led by the Provincial Superior of MSC Indonesia, RP. Samuel Maranresy MSC, with the theme ‘The Hope of MSC Indonesia for MSC’.

MSC Brothers were invited to examine the reality of the Congregation, which focuses on the development of MSC Brothers. Several MSC chapters have focused explicitly on brothers, including the General Chapter in Escorial, Spain, in 2011, the Chapter in Nemi, Italy, in 2023, and the MSC Indonesia Chapter in 2023. The Provincial Father expressed concern over the drastic decline in the number of brothers being called, while many categorical works require brothers, as evidenced by the high demand for brothers.

At the end of the session, the Provincial Father posed a reflective question: “As MSC Brothers, do we think of a specific work that is handled by the Brothers? As individuals, what concerns motivate the brothers to pursue a specific field of service as a contribution to the congregation? And do the brothers feel at home and comfortable in carrying out their current mission? This reflection prompted the brothers to consider the reality of the Congregation’s proprietary work. Next, Fr. Ignatius Wong Sani Saliwardaya MSC, Deputy Provincial Leader, presented material on the proprietary work of MSC Indonesia. When discussing work, the reality is that there is often a distinction between priests and brothers. However, this is the work of MSC. All of this applies to everyone, not only to the brothers but to all MSC Indonesia. The focus when discussing work is on good governance. Work will be sustainable and productive if it is managed professionally. This instils a new awareness among the brothers to not just work and seek their own security, but to build a system that enables sustainable development. In the afternoon, the brothers listened to input from Br. Simon Lumpini MSC, Assistant IV to the Superior General. Br. Simon, MSC, emphasised that we cannot deny the fact that clericalism greatly influences our lives as MSCs. But we are MSCs; there is no dichotomy between priests and brothers. We walk together as one large Congregation, and we are grateful that the brothers are taken seriously. The Provincials supported the meeting of the International MSC Brothers to be held in Indonesia or Papua New Guinea. These two locations are the alternative options because they have the most significant number of MSC brothers in the Congregation.

The next meeting involved each Brother sharing about their work and service as an MSC serving a mission, ‘May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere!’’.
Several important points were made:
1. The MSC Brothers of Indonesia fully support all the good efforts of the Congregation for the personal development of the Brothers and their work, guided by the Emaus document.
2. The Brothers consciously declared that there is no special work for the Brothers. All work is MSC work.
3. The Brothers realised that monthly Zoom meetings and the Brothers’ WhatsApp group are a means of building relationships and communication among the Brothers.
4. It was proposed that the Brothers’ meeting be held regularly every three years.

Yohanis Yani Watti, MSC