| Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, SJ | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 November 1896 Surakarta |
| Died | 10 July 1963 Steyl, Netherlands |
| Occupation | clergy, educator, writer |
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 Indonesian native bishop. As a national hero of Indonesia, he was interred at the Giritunggal National Hero Cemetery, Semarang.
Soegijapranoto was born to a Kejawen family who served as courtiers in the court of Surakarta.
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.
| Preceded by New Title |
Vicar Apostolic of Semarang 1940 – 1961 |
Succeeded by Elevated to Archdiocese |
| Preceded by New Title |
Archbishop of Semarang 1961 – 1963 |
Succeeded by Justinus Darmojuwono |
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