Yogyakartans pay homage to Romo Mangun<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Thousands of people here paid homage on
\nThursday to the Catholic priest, social worker, writer and
\narchitect Y.B. Mangunwijaya, who died at 69 of heart failure in
\nJakarta on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Romo Mangun, as the respected priest was affectionately
\ncalled, will be buried Friday noon at the Catholic cemetery in
\nthe Santo Paulus seminary complex in Kentungan here.<\/p>\n
Semarang Archbishop Ignatius Soeharyo will preside over Romo
\nMangun's funeral.<\/p>\n
Television reports said residents along the Code River here,
\nwith whom Romo Mangun joined in their struggle against eviction,
\nwere to suspend business for two days to show respect for the
\nlate priest.<\/p>\n
They still inhabit their colorful homes in the settlement for
\nwhich Romo Mangun received the Geneva-based Prince Aga Khan
\naward.<\/p>\n
His body left Jakarta on an Air Force C-130 Hercules plane at
\naround 1 p.m. on Thursday.<\/p>\n
A number of Catholic priests, including noted priest Ignatius
\nSandyawan Sumardi, also traveled on the plane.<\/p>\n
From the Adisutjipto airport here, his body was driven to
\nPanti Rapih hospital, where hundreds of doctors, nurses,
\nemployees and patients offered their prayers.<\/p>\n
Romo Mangun, born in the Central Java town of Ambarawa on May
\n6, 1929, was a member of the hospital's advisory board.<\/p>\n
At around 2:30 p.m., the body was moved to Santo Fransiskus
\nXaverius church on the southern side of the famed Jl. Malioboro.<\/p>\n
From the afternoon until evening, thousands lined up to enter
\nthe church. Romo Mangun dedicated most of his lifetime to working
\nwith the poor in the ancient town.<\/p>\n
He had not left the church to live among them as earlier
\nreported, but was relieved from parochial duties by a special
\ndecree signed by the Archbishop of Semarang.<\/p>\n
Among the crowds on Thursday were leading politician Amien
\nRais, former rector of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity Koesnadi Hardjasumantri and East Java Bishop
\nHadiwikarta.<\/p>\n
Amien said at the church, "(Romo Mangun's) thoughts were ahead
\nof the times." He cited Romo Mangun's goal of a federal state for
\nIndonesia, which the priest believed could be reached by the year
\n2045.<\/p>\n
Last month saw the publication of the priest's latest book,
\nMenuju Republik Indonesia Serikat (Toward the Republic of the
\nUnited States of Indonesia).<\/p>\n
In tears, Koesnadi said Romo Mangun was a rare man among
\nintellectuals who dared speak the truth.<\/p>\n
"He was a thinker of reform," Koesnadi added.<\/p>\n
A 20-meter banner in front of the church was seen, which read
\n"May God bless you and keep you." (23\/44\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yogyakartans-pay-homage-to-romo-mangun-1447893297",
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