Peter Canisius Minor Seminary Mertoyudan

Peter Canisius Minor Seminary Mertoyudan
Location
Magelang Rd., Mertoyudan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Information
Type Jesuit, Catholic
Motto Goodness, soundness, and knowledge
Established 1912 (1912)
Rector Ign. Sumarya, SJ
Principal Alis Windu Prasetyo, SJ
Mascot Dog
Website Canisius

Peter Canisius Minor Seminary, Mertoyudan, is a secondary school for those intending to be priests. It opened in 1912 and is a work of the Society of Jesus.

History

Mertoyudan Seminary began with two graduates of the teacher education school in Muntilan, Java, Peter Darmaseputra and F.X. Satiman. In November 1911 they went to Jesuit Frs. Van Lith and Mertens, asking them for help in training for the priesthood since there was a need for native priests in Indonesia, This triggered the idea of founding a seminary. The permission of the Holy See was received in 1912 and the first Catholic seminary in Indonesia was founded. They began by joining Xavier College Muntilan, and by 1914 had been joined by five others. In 1914 a partnership was entered into with Uden, Netherlands.

Between the years 1916 and 1920 ten seminarians from Muntilan sent to the Latin school in Uden, Netherlands, organized the priests of the Order of the Holy Cross. From these, two died and another had health problems, perhaps because of the climate. It was determined to plan again for seminary education in Indonesia, with courses at Muntilan.

In September 1922 two graduates of the seminary became the first novices in the recently opened novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Yogyakarta, under novice master Fr. Strater, S.J.

In May 1925 the Minor Seminary opened in a building to the west of St. Ignatius College, Yogyakarta. In December 1927 the Vicar Apostolic of Batavia Mgr. id:Anton Pieter Franz van Velsen, S.J., blessed the building. Those admitted were from Hollands inlandse School (HIS) and Europese Lagere School (ELS), elementary schools. In line with the course in Muntilan, for those who already had a teacher's diploma teacher education continued. Around the year 1927 both these courses were combined into a minor seminary in Yogyakarta, with seven grade levels. The lowest class, Approved Candidate, was at grade VII in the current educational system, then after grades eight and nine Grammar (equivalent to grade X), Syntax (XI), Poetry (XII), and Rhetoric class. Junior high school graduates began with Cursus which, if passed, qualified them for grade X. Likewise high school graduates, who later joined the Rhetoric class. The enrollment increased to 100 and beginning in January 1941 the seminary was moved to Mertoyudan, Magelang.

During World War II, on 8 March 1942 the Dutch soldiers who occupied Indonesia surrendered to the Japanese army. Mertoyudan Seminary building was occupied by the Japanese and used for Nogako Agriculture School. The Western colonial education system was prohibited by the Japanese occupation government. Therefore, on 5 April 1942 the seminarians were forced to return to their homes. Nevertheless, their education continued in secret in various rectories, in Boro, Yogyakarta, Ganjuran, Muntilan, Girisonta, Ungaran, Semarang, and Solo. During this difficult time the seminary was commonly called the Seminary in diaspora. This situation lasted until the Republic of Indonesia's independence in 1945. At this time and since the school has assisted in the schooling of policemen.[1]

During the violent revolution the Mertoyudan Seminary building had burned down, and its remnants plundered. After peace returned the seminary building was rebuilt by the Apostolic Vicariate of Semarang, and completed in August 1952. The building is now part of the Fathers' House and Madya Medanthe in the Mertoyudan Seminary complex. With construction complete, the scattered seminarians returned to Mertoyudan.

On 3 December 1952 the Mertoyudan Seminary building was blessed by Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, S.J. Five years later an additional building was constructed for primary school graduates and others. After that a growing number of primary school pupils were accepted into Mertoyudan Seminary. But twenty-five years later in 1968, based on other considerations, primary school graduates were no longer accepted, only graduates of junior and senior high schools. The names of the classes also changed, adapted to the three classes of high school at the time (class I or class X SMA now, high school class II or class XI, and class III high school or class XII). The school also offered majors in socio-economics and mathematics and natural science.

Until 1971 high school graduates who studied at the Seminary in Yogyakarta went on to Teachers' Training College Sanata Dharma to complete their baccalaureate. But beginning in 1972 they were also accommodated at the Seminary Mertoyudan. In 1973 the higher prep class was eliminated, so that third year high school students or grade XII at that time were allowed after graduation to continue to the novitiate or seminary. For various reasons, the year 1974 at Wisma Realino Yogyakarta branch of Seminary Mertoyudan specifically accommodated the high school graduates. The term BC (bij cursus) this year changed to Class Preparation. Then there were the First Preparatory Class (KPP) for junior high school graduates and Preparation Class Upper (KPA) for high school graduates.

In 1976 there was an addition to the Seminary Mertoyudan complex, to accommodate seminarians in the top grade. That year also saw the Yogyakarta branch seminary merged again with Mertoyudan, which has continued till now.[2] Economizing is important where various means of fundraising are needed to subsidize those who cannot afford cost of education and housing.[3]

Anniversary

The Centenary of St. Peter Canisius Mertoyudan was celebrated in 2012. The theme was "Faithful nurturing: preparing priestly seeds with multi-cultural and environmentally sound development as a cadre of leaders of the Church and the nation." The celebration included various socializing activities from early January 2011, and then nine monthly, thematic Masses offered by alumni beginning in May 2011.

In June 2011 there was a fest with various competitions, in writing, acting, and painting. There was also training of catechists, free medical and health seminars, and on 2 June 2012 a concluding Mass of Gratitude for 100 Years of Mertoyudan Seminary, followed by various theatrical performances and with Ki Radya Harsono and the leather puppet show, along with the play Dewa Ruci.

Since the anniversary celebration, reunions have been held and a book of remembrances has been published.[4] The seminary also has its own music ensemble.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Polri harus kembali ke Seminari Mertoyudan | Berita online Gereja Katolik Indonesia". Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  2. ↑ "Seminari Menengah St Petrus Canisius". seminarimertoyudan.sch.id. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  3. ↑ Susanto, Gabriel Abdi. "Biaya Sekolah Seminari Mertoyudan Memang Mahal, tapi… | SESAWI.NET". Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  4. ↑ Prasetya, Y. Alis Windu (2016-06-23). Seminari St. Petrus Canisius: Potret Perjalanan Waktu ke Waktu (in Indonesian). xmerto. ISBN 9786020893235.
  5. ↑ Tomas Becket (2015-07-12), Canista Seminari Mertoyudan - Medley Nusantara @HVL2015, retrieved 2017-01-23

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