Albertus Soegijapranata
Encyclopedia
Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, SJ (Surakarta
, Central Java
25 November 1896 - Steyl
, Netherlands
10 July 1963) was the Apostolic Vicar of Semarang, and later on the Archbishop of Semarang
. He was also the first Indonesia
n native bishop
. As a national hero of Indonesia, he was interred at the Giritunggal National Hero Cemetery, Semarang.
.
He attended Xaverius College which was founded by Father Van Lith
, SJ. During his course of study, Soegijapranata was baptized in Muntilan by Father Meltens, SJ taking the baptismal name Albertus Magnus
. From the education he received he began to consider to enter priesthood. He was later sent to the Netherlands to study in the Gymnasium, cared by the Crosier
(OSC) fathers in Uden, Northern Brabant province, where he studied Latin and Greek.
He entered the Jesuit novitiate
in Mariendaal, Grave. Here he met Mgr. Willekens, SJ, who would be the Apostolic Vicar of Batavia. In 22 September 1922 Soegijapranata took his first simple vows. He stayed in Berchman College, Oudenbosch for three years to study philosophy before returning to the Dutch East Indies.
Upon returning to Muntilan, he took up a teaching post at the Xaverius College in Muntilan. He went back to the Netherlands in 1928 to study theology in Maastricht. In 15 August 1931 he was ordained a priest by Mgr. Schrijnen, Bishop of Roermond in the city of Maastricht. He returned to Indonesia to Kidulloji parish, Yogyakarta for a year to work as assistant pastor. He was transferred to Bintaran in 1934, where he stayed until 1940.
On 1 August 1940, a telegram from Rome was received by Mgr. Willekens, SJ regarding Soegijapranoto's appointment as Vicar Apostolic and titular bishop of Semarang, signed by Mgr. Montini (the future Pope Paul VI
). He was ordained the first native Indonesian bishop
as the Vicar Apostolic of Semarang in 6 November 1940 by Mgr. Willekens, SJ (Vicar Apostolic of Batavia), Mgr. AJE Albers, O. Carm. (Vicar Apostolic of Malang) and Mgr. HM Mekkelholt, SCJ (Vicar Apostolic of Palembang)
He was responsible amongst others, together with Mgr. Willekens, for the defense of the Carolus Hospital then operating in Batavia under the Japanese occupation of Indonesia.
Surakarta
Surakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and...
, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
25 November 1896 - Steyl
Steyl
Steyl is a village in the municipality of Venlo in the Netherlands and is best known as a monastery village.-Location:Steyl is on the right bank of the Limburgic river Meuse. A ferry connects Steyl with Baarlo. Steyl in the past has often had to deal with flooding, due to the high level of the...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
10 July 1963) was the Apostolic Vicar of Semarang, and later on the Archbishop of Semarang
Archbishops of Semarang
Archbishops of Semarang:* 1961–1963: Albertus Soegijapranata* 1963–1981: Justinus Darmojuwono* 1981–1997: Julius Riyadi Darmaatmadja* 1997–2009: Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo* 2010-present: Johannes Pujasumarta...
. He was also the first Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n native bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. As a national hero of Indonesia, he was interred at the Giritunggal National Hero Cemetery, Semarang.
Biography
Soegijapranoto was born to a Kejawen family who served as courtiers in the court of SurakartaSurakarta
Surakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and...
.
He attended Xaverius College which was founded by Father Van Lith
Franciscus Georgius Josephus van Lith
Franciscus Georgius Josephus van Lith SJ or often called "Frans van Lith" was a Jesuit priest from Oirschot, Netherlands who pioneered the Catholic mission in Java, especially Central Java....
, SJ. During his course of study, Soegijapranata was baptized in Muntilan by Father Meltens, SJ taking the baptismal name Albertus Magnus
Albertus Magnus
Albertus Magnus, O.P. , also known as Albert the Great and Albert of Cologne, is a Catholic saint. He was a German Dominican friar and a bishop, who achieved fame for his comprehensive knowledge of and advocacy for the peaceful coexistence of science and religion. Those such as James A. Weisheipl...
. From the education he received he began to consider to enter priesthood. He was later sent to the Netherlands to study in the Gymnasium, cared by the Crosier
Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross
The Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross, commonly called Crosiers, are a Roman Catholic religious order.-History:According to their own tradition, the Crosiers were founded by five men attached to the household of the prince-bishop of Liege, Radulf von Zähringen, who accompanied the...
(OSC) fathers in Uden, Northern Brabant province, where he studied Latin and Greek.
He entered the Jesuit novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
in Mariendaal, Grave. Here he met Mgr. Willekens, SJ, who would be the Apostolic Vicar of Batavia. In 22 September 1922 Soegijapranata took his first simple vows. He stayed in Berchman College, Oudenbosch for three years to study philosophy before returning to the Dutch East Indies.
Upon returning to Muntilan, he took up a teaching post at the Xaverius College in Muntilan. He went back to the Netherlands in 1928 to study theology in Maastricht. In 15 August 1931 he was ordained a priest by Mgr. Schrijnen, Bishop of Roermond in the city of Maastricht. He returned to Indonesia to Kidulloji parish, Yogyakarta for a year to work as assistant pastor. He was transferred to Bintaran in 1934, where he stayed until 1940.
On 1 August 1940, a telegram from Rome was received by Mgr. Willekens, SJ regarding Soegijapranoto's appointment as Vicar Apostolic and titular bishop of Semarang, signed by Mgr. Montini (the future Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
). He was ordained the first native Indonesian bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
as the Vicar Apostolic of Semarang in 6 November 1940 by Mgr. Willekens, SJ (Vicar Apostolic of Batavia), Mgr. AJE Albers, O. Carm. (Vicar Apostolic of Malang) and Mgr. HM Mekkelholt, SCJ (Vicar Apostolic of Palembang)
He was responsible amongst others, together with Mgr. Willekens, for the defense of the Carolus Hospital then operating in Batavia under the Japanese occupation of Indonesia.