Youth Gathering in Balikpapan, East Borneo

Sisters Yustin and Beta, fcJ attended the TERAMO (Temu Orang Muda OMI) youth gathering in Balikpapan, East Borneo, Indonesia. The event was run by the OMI Fathers and held in two parishes: St Peter and Paul Parish Balikpapan and St Mary of Fatima Penajam. It was attended by more than 460 youth from different parishes in Indonesia: Jakarta,  Yogyakarta, Cilacap,  North Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, etc., and also from Bangladesh and The Philippines.

One of the activities in the programme was a live-in experience. The FCJ group was assigned to Stasi ITCI, Penajam, about two hours by boat from the main church. We joined the activities of our host families, listened to their stories, cooked meals together, and visited their farms. The main activity was at church hall. The joy was in the air as we prayed, sang and danced together. Being with them has been a privilege. We have witnessed the depth of their faith, their joy and their willingness to spread God’s love to others.