Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish Catholic Church: A Spiritual Oasis in Makassar
theolingua.id – Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish Catholic Church is one of the most historically and spiritually significant worship centres in Makassar. Standing majestically in a strategic area, this church is not only a place of worship, but also a symbol of faith for Catholics in the eastern part of Makassar.
With a large enough area, the church is able to accommodate thousands of people who come to attend mass and other spiritual activities. Apart from being a place of worship, the church is also the centre of various social and community activities, which further strengthens the relationship between people within the parish.
Church Blessing and Inauguration
The blessing of Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish Catholic Church was held on 1 May 2015 by the Bishop of Makassar Archdiocese, Mgr. Yohanes Liku Ada’ Pr. The ceremony took place with great solemnity according to the guidelines of the Roman Catholic Church. The event was attended by various parties, including priests, sisters, donors, and local Catholics. The blessing lasted for 2.5 hours and was followed by a social gathering outside the church.
The day after the blessing, on 2 May 2015, the church was inaugurated, inviting various government officials and community leaders. Although the Mayor of Makassar was unable to attend, the event was still lively with the presence of government representatives, members of the Makassar City DPRD, and various elements of society. The event was further enlivened by the performance of typical South Sulawesi dances and art performances from JMJ Rajawali School students.
History and Forerunner of Development
The presence of Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish Catholic Church cannot be separated from the needs of Catholics in the eastern region of Makassar which continues to grow. The construction of this church was also an impact of the burning of Maria Ratu Rosari Parish Church in Kare. At that time, Father van Rooy, CICM, together with the Depas of Maria Ratu Rosari Kare Parish were looking for a new location to build a church, and finally Sudiang was chosen as a possible location.
With the support of the surrounding community and permission from the Makassar City government, the construction of this church began. The initial capital available was only around Rp25 million, but the spirit of mutual cooperation of the Catholics in this area was extraordinary. Every day, dozens of people volunteered to help with the construction of the church, both in the form of labour, thoughts, and funds. The involvement of the people as well as the good relationship established by the Parish Priest, Fr. Dr. John Turing Datang, Pr., also accelerated the process of completing the church.
Organisational Structure and Church People
Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish Catholic Church stands on 1 hectare of land owned by the Archdiocese of Makassar, making it one of the parishes with the largest land area in the city. Currently, the church houses around 3,000 parishioners who are divided into nine neighbourhoods, namely:
- Rukun YMY
- St James’ House
- Our Lady’s House
- Saint Yoseph’s House
- Materdolorosa House
- House of St Marselinus
- The House of Caritas
- St Katarina’s House
- People of Kampung Sawah
Church as Spiritual Oasis
In addition to being a place of worship, Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish Catholic Church is also developed as a ‘Spiritual Oasis’ for people who want to find inner peace. Its location away from the noise of the city and surrounded by green trees makes it an ideal place to pray and meditate.
At the back of the church, a prayer garden was built centred on a three-metre-high statue of the Virgin Mary. The garden is designed as a shady and cosy place for devotees who want to pray more deeply. In addition, the construction of a terrace to protect the statue from rain and heat is planned, as well as an adoration room to complement the worship facilities.
The Future of Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish
With the growing Catholic community in Makassar, Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish Catholic Church has great potential to become a centre of religious and social activities. Its strategic location and large church area allow various spiritual and social activities to continue to grow in the future.
The spirit of gotong royong that has been proven since the beginning of the construction of this church is expected to be maintained, so that the Maria Rosa Mystica Sudiang Parish Catholic Church will increasingly develop as a place of worship that provides peace and coolness for all people.
