"We need to keep ourselves in good words in the House of God," said Bishop Adrianus Sunarko OFM, Bishop of Pangkalpinang, that the blessing of St. Peter’s Church in Kampung Jeruk, Pangkalan Baru District, Central Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands.
The blessing that opened with the Mass of gratitude was attended by at least 500 people and 21 priests as a concelebrant.
There were also invited guests from the Provincial Government of Bangka Belitung, members of DPR, the police and members of the Inter-Religious Communication Forum of Bangka Belitung Province.
Bishop Sunarko reminded that the building of this church is only a symbol and a place of prayer for Catholics. But more importantly, Catholics should be able to apply their faith in living together in society.
When faith can be expressed in everyday life then that is where God is present and the church building has meaning.
In the midst of a world of interstellar competition, we hope that more people will be involved in initiating peace. Thus, living together means more and the name of God is increasingly glorified.
"I hope Catholics make Bangka Belitung a miniature of inter-religious harmony that exists in Indonesia," said Didit Didit Srigusjaya member of DPR of the Republic of Bangka Belitung.
This St. Peter's Church is about 12 kilometers from the Provincial Capital. About 47 years ago, the inaugural church of St. Peter's Kampung Jeruk was standing with a building size of 11 X 13 meters.
Over time, the number of people continues to grow so that the church can not accommodate the people anymore. So renovated by adding the church area to 25 X 45 meters, including the terrace.
The church began its first construction on 27 May 2011 and is now completed. Behind the joys and sorrows of this church building that took about eight years, the people of St. Peter’s Church felt the intervention of the late of Bishop Hilarius Moa Nurak SVD in the early establishment of this church.
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