Celebration of 125 Years of the Roman Union in Indonesia

19/01/2026

Rooted in Christ, United in Mission: 125 Years of the Roman Union

Bandung, Indonesia — The Ursuline Sisters in Indonesia celebrated a Thanksgiving Eucharist for the 125th Anniversary of the Roman Union of the Order of Saint Ursula as a moment of faith, fraternity, and renewed missionary commitment. The celebration took place at the Ursuline Provincialate of Indonesia in Bandung on 29 October 2025. It expressed gratitude for God’s enduring guidance throughout the Ursuline journey while reaffirming the commitment to remain faithful to the charism of Saint Angela Merici amid the challenges of the times.

The Eucharistic celebration was attended by Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, Archbishop of Jakarta; Mgr. Yan Olla, Bishop of Tanjung Selor; approximately 40 concelebrating priests; religious from various congregations; the Ursuline Sisters of Indonesia; as well as alumnae of Ursuline schools and partners in mission from across Indonesia.

In his homily, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo emphasized that the resilience and continuity of the Ursuline mission cannot rely solely on human determination but must be sustained by a living faith that continually renews vocation and mission. He reminded the assembly that the long journey of the Congregation—particularly in education and pastoral service—is a sign of Christ’s abiding presence in His Church and therefore a grace to be received with gratitude.

The Cardinal also invited the entire Ursuline family to safeguard the spirit of unity embodied in the Roman Union by remaining deeply rooted in Christ and bearing concrete fruit for the world. At the conclusion of the celebration, the faithful were invited to pray that the Ursuline Sisters may become ever more “deeply rooted in Christ and increasingly fruitful for the world,” in harmony with the jubilee theme highlighted during the celebration.

The Provincial’s Message: Gratitude, Renewal, and New Works of Mission

In her address, Sr. Lita, Provincial of the Ursuline Sisters in Indonesia, expressed gratitude for the 125 years of the Roman Union as a grace that strengthens unity across nations and cultures within one shared charism and mission. She emphasized that this celebration is not merely a remembrance of history but a moment of renewal in response to the needs of the Church and society today.

Sr. Lita also outlined the ongoing missionary direction of the Indonesian Province. Alongside strengthening existing works, the Province is opening and developing new works of mission in response to the needs of education, accompaniment, and the presence of the Church in places where it is most needed. In a spirit of fidelity to communal discernment and missionary readiness, these developments are understood not as expansion for its own sake but as an expression of faithfulness to the call to be present and to serve. She further highlighted the orientation of mission toward underserved areas beyond major urban centers.

Ursuline Educational Works and a Mission that Continues to Grow

The presence of alumnae and partners in mission at this celebration reaffirmed that the Ursuline mission has flourished through collaboration and mutual trust. The Ursuline Sisters are widely recognized for their contributions to education through various institutions in several cities while continuing to orient their mission toward strengthening service in regions with greater needs.

The 125th Anniversary of the Roman Union thus stands as an important milestone, affirming that unity is not merely an organizational structure but a spirituality that inspires courage to renew, strengthen mission, and keep alive the charism of Saint Angela Merici so that it may remain relevant for the Church and the world.

Sr. Vero Andayani OSU