Perpetual Profession in Indonesia

MALANG, Indonesia - Following yesterday's ceremony in which three confreres solemny consecrated themselves to Jesus Christ through Mary, today, Friday, August 15, 2025, they made their Final Vows as Montfortian Religious.

The ceremony took place in the Liberos Hall, the new building behind the Scholasticate, which was inaugurated and blessed by Father Yoseph Putra Dwi Darma WATUN, SMM, the Superior General of the SMM, on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The Superior General himself presided over the Eucharist of the Perpetual Profession, accompanied by several concelebrants, including the Provincial Superior of the SMM in Indonesia, Fr. Anton TENSI, SMM; the formators of the Seminary and the confreres working in East Java (among whom Fr. Marselinus LOBI, SMM and Fr. Christian Jumi NGAMPU, SMM who celebrated their 25th anniversary of religious profession on that day). Concelebrating were also Fr. Charles LETA, SMM (a Montfort Missionary in the Netherlands) who was on vacation, and Fr. Petrus Prihatin Pr. (Fr. Pepe), parish priest of the Cathedral of Malang in whose territory the seminary is situated.

In his homily, Father Dwi emphasised the meaning of the cross for Christians, and especially for the three confreres. For Father Dwi, the cross is a symbol of self-emptying. He also advised all those who are called that when they experience obstacles or difficulties during the process of maintaining their vocation, they must return to the experience when they were truly touched by God. In this regard, they need to recall the experience when they truly felt the presence of God in their lives. This advice also applied to the other confreres.

The celebration began at 4:30 p.m.local time and ended at 6:15 p.m.  At the end of the celebration, a representative of the jubilarians, one of their families, and the Provincial Superior gave a short address. After that, a group photo was taken, followed by dinner and recreation together.

Many guests attended this celebration to pray together for the journey of our three confreres and to present gifts to the three jubilarians. Also we, residing at the PONSA seminary, congratulated the three confreres, Bro. Damas, Bro. Defri, and Bro. Rino, with the profession of their perpetual vows: "May God always accompany you on your journey of vocation in this congregation."