On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, a severe flooding damaged the society irrigation system which affected the FCJM community St. Antonius Padua in Tigadolok which closely attach with kindergarten school. The three sisters, members of this community temporarily lived at the St. Antonius Elementary School location using several classrooms that were modified. For ± 2.5 years this community had not been built because the FCJM Indonesian Province Leadership was still studying, considering and asking for input and solutions from experts, the community and the FCJM General Leadership in Rome. All these processes brought abundant grace so that on January 14, 2025, the first stone was laid at the St. Antonius Padua Elementary School location. The careful consideration seemed long but produced better results and opened the door to grace within. The laying of this first stone of St. Antonius Padua Tigadolok Community was held in a year full of important moments, namely the Catholic Jubilee Year 2025 and the VIII Centenario Year of the Canticle (Gita Sang Surya).

The Eucharistic celebration of the laying of the first stone began at 09.00 WIB with the main celebrant Rev Fr. Bonaventura H.R. Gultom, OFMConv (Parish Priest) and four concelebrants; Fr. Emmanuel Sembiring OFMCap / Moderator FCJM Province of Indonesia and three Conventual Order Priests who live in their Novitiate. This celebration also conveyed representatives of the congregation, government officials (Secretary of the Sub-district Head, Village Head), Conventual Novices, teachers at St. Antonius Padua Elementary School and several representatives from surrounding communities. The laying of the first stone was built on a solid foundation of faith so that this community will be a source of peace and blessing for everyone who comes.

On this occasion, Sr. M. Lydia Simbolon FCJM (Vice Provincial) expressed her gratitude to all those present, the church, the government and the surrounding community who gave support and prayers. Greetings were also conveyed from the Provincial (Sr. M. Theodosia Tinambunan FCJM) who is currently visiting Malawi-Africa with Sr. M. Agnes Tambunan FCJM. That may all the support and hopes conveyed be a blessing during the construction process until it is fully completed.

Floods are not just disasters, sometimes there is hidden grace. Today’s hidden grace is present with the successful laying of the first stone.

Before the closing of the event, the blessing of the location continued and symbolically several envoys laid stones as cornerstones with prayer and hope that the construction process would run well, and all contractors and workers would be under God’s protection. On this occasion, a prayer sheet of St. Anthony of Padua was also placed as the patron of the community and ministry at FCJM in Tigadolok.

Sr. M. Egidia Purba FCJM as community coordinator of the St. Antonius Padua Tigadolok is very grateful because God’s grace is truly evident today, she hopes that in the future the members of the community and anyone who comes to this cloister will experience God’s blessings.

Written by Sr. M. Ivoline Maharaja FCJM

Translated by Sr. M. Emmanuela Sitorus FCJM