The Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (BCI; , KWI) is the

episcopal conference An episcopal conference, often also called a bishops’ conference or conference of bishops, is an official assembly of the bishops of the Catholic Church in a given territory. Episcopal conferences have long existed as informal entities. The fir ...

of the Catholic bishops of Indonesia. It was constituted in November 1955, in

Surabaya Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...

as the Supreme Council of Indonesian Bishops (). KWI is a part of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.

History

Every bishop, since his ordination, in itself a part of the ranks of the world's Bishops (Collegium Episcopale) and together with the bishops all over the world, under the leadership of the Pope, was responsible for the entire Catholic Church. The bishops in the country together to form a partnership organization called Conference of Bishops. Inside this organization they work to negotiate and decide something about Catholics across the country. A bishop is the head of the local church called the diocese. By doing so he is also called ''Waligereja''. Because of that so the Indonesian Bishops Conference called the Supreme Council of Indonesian Bishops (MAWI) which is then changed to the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI). From 1807 until 1902 the Catholic Church throughout the country under the leadership of a Prefect/

apostolic vicar Apostolic may refer to: The Apostles An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission: *The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles *Apostolic succession, the doctrine connecting the Christian Churc ...

based in Batavia. Although some areas since 1902 has been separated from the Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia (1902: Maluku -

Irian Jaya New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Austral ...

, 1905:

Borneo Borneo () is the List of islands by area, third-largest island in the world, with an area of , and population of 23,053,723 (2020 national censuses). Situated at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, it is one of the Greater Sunda ...

, 1911:

Sumatra Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...

, 1913/1914:

Nusa Tenggara The Lesser Sunda Islands (, , ), now known as Nusa Tenggara Islands (, or "Southeast Islands"), are an archipelago in the Indonesian archipelago. Most of the Lesser Sunda Islands are located within the Wallacea region, except for the Bali pr ...

, and 1919:

Sulawesi Sulawesi ( ), also known as Celebes ( ), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the List of islands by area, world's 11th-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Min ...

), but recognition of the Dutch colonial government to the many Catholic Church leaders in the archipelago just happened in 1913. Then all Vicar Apostolic Prefect feel that it was necessary to negotiate together to achieve unity in the government attitude towards many issues, but especially relating to freedom for the mission to enter all areas and is also associated with the position of Catholic education. The meeting occurred on the occasion of the ordination of new bishop. A. Van Velsen as Vicar Apostolic of Jakarta (May 13, 1924) at the

Jakarta Cathedral Jakarta Cathedral (, ) is a Latin Catholic cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, which is also the seat of the Archbishop of Jakarta, currently Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo. Its official name is , derived from the original name in Dutch, ...

. Were present at that time : Mgr. P. Boss, O.F.M.Cap . (Vicar Apostolic of

Kalimantan Kalimantan (; ) is the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo. It constitutes 73% of the island's area, and consists of the provinces of Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan. The non-Ind ...

), Mgr. A. Verstraelen, S.V.D. (Vicar Apostolic of Nusa Tenggara), Mgr. Y. Aerts, M.S.C. (Vicar Apostolic of Maluku - Irian Jaya), Mgr. L.T.M. Brans, O.F.M.Cap. (Prefect Apostolic of Padang) and Mgr. G. Panis, M.S.C. (Prefect Apostolic of Sulawesi). On September 15 - May 16, 1924 was held the first meeting of Bishops of Nusantara in Jakarta Cathedral. The trial was presided over by Mgr. A. Van Velsen and was attended by the bishops mentioned above plus the two pastors : AHG Brocker, M.S.C. and S.Th. van Hoof, S.J. as a resource. The second hearing was held on August 31 to September 6, 1925, also in Jakarta, under the leadership of

Pope Pius X Pope Pius X (; born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto; 2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914) was head of the Catholic Church from 4 August 1903 to his death in August 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing Modernism in the Catholic Church, modern ...

a messenger named Mgr. B.Y. Gijlswijk, OP, an Apostolic Delegatus in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. Unless the bishops mentioned above, the trial participants has increased by Mgr. H. Smeetes, S.C.J. (Prefect Apostolic of Bengkulu), Mgr. Th. Herkenrat, S.S.C.C. (Prefect Apostolic of

Pangkalpinang Pangkalpinang, colloquially written as Pangkal Pinang, also known as Pin-kong in Hakka, is the capital and largest city of the Bangka Belitung Islands Province in Indonesia. It is located on Bangka Island's east coast, the city is divided into ...

). Also present Th Fr. De Backere, C.M., Fr Cl. Van de Pas, O.Carm., Father Y. Hoederechts, S.J., being Father H. Jansen, S.J. and Fr Y. Van Baal, S.J. served as secretary. In this trial it was decided to hold a hearing every five years. The next sessions are: June 4 to 11, 1929 at Muntilan (attended by 10 bishops), 19 to 27 September 1934 at Girisonta (also attended by a priest from Centraal Missie Bureau or the Office of Catholic Bishops), 16-22 August 1939 also in Girisonta (15 bishops and three people from the CMB as well as an Apostolic Delegatus for Australia: Mgr . Y. Panico). Because of the war, the meeting of the Indonesian Bishops can not be held. On 26-30 April 1954 the Bishops' all over Java hold a meeting in Lawang. There expressed a desire to hold a new conference for all bishops. A draft constitution prepared by Mgr. W. Schoemaker M.S.C. (Bishop Purwokerto) subsequently approved by

Internuncio An apostolic nuncio (; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio) is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international organization. A nuncio is ...

in Jakarta on January 31, 1955. Dated March 14, 1955 Mgr. W. Schoemaker M.S.C. appointed by the Internuncio as the chairman of MAWI for the next meeting. The meeting can be held on the 25th of October to 2 November 1955 in Bruderan, Surabaya and was attended by 22 bishops (of 25 bishops there). This is the meeting of the Conference of Bishops from all over Indonesia, the first after the war. One important decision is that henceforth the Indonesian bishops' conference is called the Supreme Council of Bishops of Indonesia, abbreviated MAWI, a translation of the ''Raad van Kerkvoogden''. The date is regarded as the founding date MAWI. In addition to the plenary session, it was decided to set up a small meeting that remains, to carry out daily tasks, which is called the Central Indonesian Bishops' Council, abbreviated DEWAP, which is chaired by Mgr. Albertus Soegijapranata, S.J. (Vicar Apostolic of Semarang). To improve the performance of its duties, established various " Committee "/PWI (Indonesian Bishops ' Committee) is a member of DEWAP (decided that DEWAP convene once a year) and that addressing one service area: PWI (Indonesian Bishops' Committee) Social, Catholic and Apostolic Action PWI layman, PWI Seminary and University, Education and Religion PWI, PWI catechesis People and Propagation of the Faith, PWI Press and Propaganda. It was decided that DEWAP convene once a year. After Indonesia's independence the number of Catholics Indonesia increased considerably. So rapid development of Indonesian Catholic congregation, so that in a meeting in Girisonta, Ungaran,

Central Java Central Java (, ) is a Provinces of Indonesia, province of Indonesia, located in the middle of the island of Java. Its administrative capital is Semarang. It is bordered by West Java in the west, the Indian Ocean and the Special Region of Yogya ...

(9 to 16 May 1960) Indonesian bishops wrote a letter to

Pope John XXIII Pope John XXIII (born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli; 25 November 18813 June 1963) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death on 3 June 1963. He is the most recent pope to take ...

, pleading for him to officially inaugurate the establishment of the Church hierarchy in Indonesia. Then by decree ''" Quod Christus Adorandus "'' dated January 3, 1961 Pope John XXIII inaugurated the establishment of the Church hierarchy in Indonesia. Since 1987, the Supreme Council of Indonesian Bishops (MAWI) renamed the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI). KWI Leadership held by the Presidium of KWI. In the General Secretariat assembled all officials who helped facilitate the work of the Indonesian bishops' pastoral. On 15 May 2024, the newly renovated KWI building located in Cut Mutia St.,

Menteng Menteng is a district () in the administrative city of Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Menteng is surrounded by the districts of Senen and Matraman to the east, Tebet and Setiabudi to the south, Tanah Abang to the west, and Gambir to the north. ...

Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...

was consecrated.

Objectives

Gedung Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia 2024 02

KWI is a Federation of The Catholic Bishops, of Indonesia, which aims to promote unity and cooperation in their pastoral duties to lead Catholics in Indonesia. KWI is not "above" or supervises bishops, each bishop remains autonomous. KWI does not have branches in the area.

Members

The conference has 38 members—one bishop in each of the 38 dioceses in Indonesia. All bishops in Indonesia are members of KWI, except for the retired bishops.

Organization Structure

Board

''President :'' Mgr. Antonius Subianto Bunyamin, OSC ''Vice President :'' Mgr. Adrianus Sunarko, OFM ''Vice President II :'' Mgr. Robertus Rubiyatmoko ''Secretary General :'' Mgr. Paskalis Bruno Syukur, OFM ''Treasurer :'' Mgr. Yustinus Harjosusanto, MSF ''Members :'' Adrianus Sunarko, O.F.M. (Pangkalpinang) Agustinus Agus (Pontianak) Aloysius Maryadi Sutrisnaatmaka, M.S.F. (Palangka Raya) Aloysius Murwito, O.F.M. (Agats) Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, O.S.C. (Bandung) Benedictus Estephanus Rolly Untu, M.S.C. (Manado) Christophorus Tri Harsono (Purwokerto) Dominikus Saku (Atambua) Edmund Woga, C.SS.R. (Weetebula) Ewaldus Martinus Sedu (Maumere) Fransiskus Kopong Kung (Larantuka) Fransiskus Nipa (Koajutor Makassar) Fransiskus Tuaman Sasfo Sinaga (Sibolga) Henricus Pidyarto Gunawan, O. Carm. (Malang) Hilarion Datus Lega (Manokwari–Sorong) Hironimus Pakaenoni (Kupang) Ignatius Kardinal Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo (Jakarta & Military Ordinariate Indonesia) Johannes Liku Ada' (Makassar) Kornelius Sipayung, O.F.M. Cap. (Medan) Maksimus Regus (Labuan Bajo) Paskalis Bruno Syukur, O.F.M. (Bogor) Paulinus Yan Olla, M.S.F. (UskupTanjung Selor) Paulus Budi Kleden, S.V.D. (Ende) Petrus Canisius Mandagi, M.S.C. (Merauke) Pius Riana Prapdi (Ketapang) Robertus Rubiyatmoko (Semarang) Samuel Oton Sidin, O.F.M. Cap. (Sintang) Seno Ngutra (Amboina) Silvester Tung Kiem San (Denpasar) Siprianus Hormat (Ruteng) Valentinus Saeng, C.P. (Sanggau) Victorius Dwiardy, O.F.M. Cap. (Banjarmasin) Vinsensius Setiawan Triatmojo (Tanjungkarang) Vitus Rubianto Solichin, S.X. (Padang) Yanuarius Teofilus Matopai You (Jayapura) Yohanes Harun Yuwono (Palembang) Yustinus Harjosusanto, M.S.F. (Samarinda)

Chairmen of the Commissions

#''Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue :'' Mgr. P.C.Mandagi MSC #''Commission for Mission :'' Mgr. Edmund Woga CSSR #''Commission for Catechetics :'' Mgr. John Liku Ada #''Commission for Justice and Peace :'' Mgr. Agustinus Agus #''Commission for Family :'' Mgr. Frans Kopong Kung #''Commission for the Laity :'' Mgr. Yustinus Harjosusanto MSF #''Commission for Social Communications :'' Mgr. Petrus Turang #''Commission for Liturgy :'' Mgr. Aloysius Sutrisnaatmaka MSF #''Commission for Migrants and Itinerant :'' Mgr. Agustinus Agus #''Commission for Education :'' Mgr. Martinus Dogma Situmorang #''Commission for Socio Economic Development :'' Mgr. Hilarion Datus Lega #''Commission for Seminary :'' Mgr. Dominikus Saku #''Commission for Youth :'' Mgr. John Philipus Saklil #''Commission for Theology :'' Mgr. Petrus Boddeng Timang

Delegates

#''Delegate for Catholic Health Services :'' Mgr. Hubertus Leteng #''Delegate for The Catholic Bible Institution :'' Mgr. Vincentius Sensi Potokota #''Head of Inter-diocese Solidarity Fund (DSAK) :'' Mgr. H. Datus Lega #''KWI representative for BKBLII :'' Mgr. Hilarius Moa Nurak SVD #''Moderator of Gender Secretariat and Empowerment of Women :'' Mgr. Vincentius Sutikno

Monetary Council

''Chairman :'' Mgr. Silvester San ''Member I :'' Mgr. H. Datus Lega ''Member II :'' Mgr. Giulio Mencuccini CP

Archdioceses and Dioceses

Region of Sumatra

Ecclesiastical Province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction in Christian churches, including those of both Western Christianity and Eastern Christianity, that have traditional hierarchical structures. An ecclesiastical province consist ...

of Medan * Archdiocese of Medan ** Diocese of Sibolga ** Diocese of Padang

of Palembang * Archdiocese of Palembang ** Diocese of Pangkal-Pinang ** Diocese of Tanjungkarang