By INA SocCom

Purwodadi, Central Java, Indonesia, 30 September 2024 -- A new Salesian Residence and Boardinghouse is presently under construction at Purwodadi, Java Island, Indonesia. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 24 September 2024. The Salesians run a Junior High School there (“SMP Bhakti Mulia”). Thirty-one boys stay with us in our makeshift boardinghouse using old classrooms in the school. The new boardinghouse is designed to host up to sixty boys.

The Groundbreaking Ceremony started with the Blessing Service led by INA Superior, Fr Vincentius Prastowo, SDB. The ones laying the first foundation stone were Fr Vincentius Prastowo SDB, Fr Hendrikus Tolok, SDB (Rector of the house and the Headmaster of the School) and Fr Herman, MSC (the Parish Priest of Purwodadi). All the students, teachers, and school staff of “SMP Bhakti Mulia” joined this liturgical service with great enthusiasm.

With the help of numerous friends of Don Bosco, INA Provincial Economer, Fr. Yohanes Boedirahardjo Soerjonoto SDB, did the local resource mobilization for the new building through several activities: Bosco Charity Dinner, Bosco Charity Golf Tournament, and SJB Parish Appeal. Yet, for the total cost of the project, INA Vice-Province still needed help: The Rector Major’s Solidarity Fund supported the buying of the land, and the Fr. John Lee Memorial Foundation via Korea Salesian Mission Office supported the construction of the buildings. We are grateful to all our donors, both local and foreign, for their generosity through which our dream will be a reality.

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