MSF in Indonesia marks 131 years with stories of mission, family, and vocation

The Missionaries of the Holy Family (MSF) celebrated its 131st anniversary with a Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, on Sept. 28. The celebration included eight MSF priests, Brother Sigit MSF, and hundreds of parishioners.

During the service, priests shared personal stories regarding their missionary vocations and ministry. Father Bimo Handoko MSF, the parish priest of Jagakarsa, spoke about finding happiness in accepting every assignment as a call from God throughout his 18 years of priesthood. An MSF priest serving on Nias Island in North Sumatra described how meeting Catholics in remote villages who had gone seven years without celebrating Christmas together strengthened his commitment to missionary work. Father Ruswan MSF also shared experiences from his assignments in East Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Lampung, and Pangkalpinang.