Christ the King Cathedral Church, Ende: Place of Ordination of the Archbishop of Ende, Mgr. Paul Budi Kleden

theolingua.id – The Christ the King Cathedral Church, Ende has a long history closely related to the development of Catholicism in the East Nusa Tenggara region. Located in Potulando Village, Central Ende District, Ende Regency, the church stands on an area of 4,625 m² with clear boundaries: to the north it borders Percetakan Nusantara Indah, to the east it borders Jalan Katedral, to the south it borders Jalan Yos Sudarso, and to the west it borders the Santo Yosef Monastery.

The construction of this church was initiated by Bishop Mgr. Verstraelen as the main place for the Diocese of Sunda Kecil. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on 18 May 1930 in a ceremony led by Mgr. Verstraelen himself. This magnificent building was completed within two years and inaugurated on 7 February 1932. As a sign of respect for the faithful, Mgr. Verstraelen, who died on 16 March 1932, was buried inside this church.

The church building has a distinctive classical architecture with two main doors on the south and east sides. A bell tower and a statue of Jesus adorn the front of the church. The floor is tiled with a construction supported by concrete pillars. Apart from the main room for worship, there are also two rooms to the right and left of the pulpit which are used to store various church items.

The Role of the Cathedral Church in Indonesian History

Apart from being the centre of the diocese, the Christ the King Cathedral Church in Ende has historical links with a great Indonesian figure, Ir. Soekarno. During his exile in Ende, Bung Karno established close relationships with the priests in this church. He often visited the priests’ library and discussed various social, political and national issues with them. These discussions helped shape his thinking about the concept of unity and struggle of the Indonesian nation.

The Ende Mission Complex, which is now part of the Santo Yosef Monastery and Ende Cathedral, was once a place of intellectual interaction for Bung Karno. In this place, he contemplated various ideas that would later become the basis of the struggle for independence. The influence of the church environment and interaction with the priests gave a special colour to the formation of Bung Karno’s idea of nationality, making this church not only a place of worship, but also part of the history of Indonesia’s struggle.

Ordination of the Archbishop of Ende, Mgr. Paulus Budi Kleden

On Thursday, 22 August 2024, the Christ the King Cathedral Church in Ende made history with the consecration of Mgr. Paulus Budi Kleden as Archbishop of Ende. The day before, on 21 August 2024, a Great Vespers Service was held at the Church of St. Joseph Onekore, Ende City. The service was attended by thousands of faithful of the Archdiocese of Ende and led by Mgr. Fransiskus Kopong Kung, accompanied by Mgr. Ewaldus Sedu and Mgr. Siprianus Hormat.

In his homily, Mgr. Fransiskus Kopong Kung described Mgr. Paulus Budi Kleden as a shepherd who always smiles, reflecting the strength of faith and sincerity in serving the congregation. He emphasised that a shepherd of the congregation must serve humbly and lovingly, not for personal gain but for the welfare of the congregation he serves.

Conclusion

The Christ the King Cathedral Church in Ende is not only a place of worship, but also an important historical witness to the development of the Catholic religion and the journey of the Indonesian nation. As the centre of the diocese, this church is an important point in the religious life of Catholics in the Ende area and its surroundings. In addition, its close relationship with Bung Karno during his exile in Ende further strengthened the position of this church as part of the nation’s history. Bung Karno’s discussions and interactions with the priests in this place helped shape his thinking about unity and the struggle for independence.

In addition to its historical role, the church also continues to perform a significant spiritual function, especially with the ordination of Mgr. Paulus Budi Kleden as Archbishop of Ende. This event became a new milestone in the history of the diocese and marked the continuity of the church’s leadership in guiding the people. With a high spirit of service, it is hoped that the Christ the King Cathedral Church in Ende will continue to be a centre of spiritual development for Catholics, while maintaining its historical heritage as a symbol of faith and perseverance in facing the challenges of the times.