THE release of the new papal exhortation “Admirabile Signum” has unexpectedly revived the strong enthusiasm among Indonesian Catholics across the nation to restart their long-left behind common tradition: making Christmas grotto.
Good memories in the past
It was some decades ago between 1970-1980 that most Catholic families in Central Java were strongly motivated by their church leaders to make a small grotto in their houses respectively.
As a young boy in the elementary school in 1970-ies in Java, AsiaNews could really feel that strong enthusiasm.
As soon as the Advent Season was released and a weekly “prayer gathering” fellowship was performed in every Catholic family, the public move to establish a Christmas small grotto in each house was also initiated.
The Christmas small grotto was made simply from local natural materials such as unused papers, grass and natural soil taken from local rivers.
When the grotto was about to be completely done, several key statues including the Holy Family of Nazareth and the shepherds were then placed on the small “path” from the road to the gate of the grotto.
Family joy
In the past decades, such a thing was not only an experience of “game” to make grotto. But, a full strong sense of togetherness among Catholic youngsters in every parish as they were told by their parents to express their Christian faith on God’s solidarity with human-beings by being borne as baby in a manger.
Decades passed and the grotto have unexpected disappeared and suddenly changed with Christmas tree and Santa Claus.
The change of spirit happened. From merely an expression of faith to the rise of consuming spirit to shopping.
This new phenomena has been skyrocketing as both Christmas Tree and Santa Claus are then being placed in every shopping malls to attack buyers to consume.
Then, the presence of “Admirabile Signum” has emerged and for sure it has gradually also changed our attitude.
“We are making the Christmas grotto, mostly after the late afternoon when our local catholic congregation have returned home from their working place and shared their time with others to commence to Christmas grotto project,” explains Father Joko Purwanto from Cawas Parish Church in Klaten District of Central Java Province.
“The Christmas grotto is still in the making,” lauds Sr. Ludovika OSA, an Augustinian nun in Nanga Mahap –some 8-hour trip from the capital Pontianak in West Kalimantan Province.
“We also do the same thing in my native home city in Balai Karangan,” adds Sr. Maria Seba SIFC, a Franciscan nun from Singkawang.
“To this very day, our Catholic congregation are still completing their project,” explains Sr. Ayu Kristina SMFA, also a Franciscan nun in Entikong –the most nearest parish church in the borderline of Indonesian Borneo and Malaysian Sabah.
Positive response from Indonesian Catholics
Quick and positive response from Indonesian Catholics to address the newly released papal exhortation “Admirabile Signum” is made available to various factors.
As soon as the papal exhortation was officially released on 1 Dec 2019, the news came to rise to some Catholic media outlet, which gained much attention from Indonesian catholic.
Only days later on, the Indonesian translation of the document was made available by the KWI’s Information and Documentation Department (Dokpen KWI).
This move has indeed prepared the good and smooth path for most Indonesians whose language capability is limited to understand the new spirit that the Pope wanted to revive and re-ignite.
Almost three decades the presence of Christmas grotto in every Catholic family has been disappeared and now the new blossoming season has come again.
The Christmas grotto is now coming again. Not only in churches and religious houses, but also in the houses of most Catholics.
This new “move” has also generated serious impact for Christmas small statues production.
In the past, these special small statues were commonly produced by local “artist” from local villages in Promasan Parish Church where the Sendangsono local Marian Shrine is located.
Today, similar artists can produce the same things in cities rather than in rural areas as it happened in 1980-ies.
