Catholic Church in Pekalongan Invites 300 Sanitation Workers to Break Fast Together
Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Pekalongan invited approximately 300 sanitation workers to participate in a communal breaking of the fast during Ramadan this year. The participants were sanitation workers from the Pekalongan City Environmental Services Agency (DLH) who work daily to maintain the city’s cleanliness. The attendees came from various units, including street sweepers, waste collection crews, illegal waste inspectors, tree-felling teams, and workers from the final disposal site (TPA).
Wahyuti, 31, a street sweeper from the Pekalongan City DLH who works in the Ponolawen and Simbang Wetan areas, expressed happiness at receiving the invitation. She described the event as a form of recognition for sanitation workers.
“I was very pleased to be invited to break fast here. In addition to receiving iftar provisions, we also received packed meals for breaking the fast and were able to gather with friends,” said Wahyuti on Tuesday (10 April) in the afternoon.
Father Yohanes Suratman, the parish priest of Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Pekalongan, explained that the breaking of fast event has been held since 2024. However, each year the church invites different community groups as a form of social concern.
“I started holding this event in 2024, but the guests are always different. This time we invited our sanitation worker friends,” said Father Yohanes.
According to him, the selection of sanitation workers as guests was not unrelated to attention towards increasingly important environmental issues at both regional and global levels. He regarded sanitation workers as “environmental heroes” working hard to maintain city cleanliness.
“Environmental issues are now a major concern. That’s why we want to give appreciation to our sanitation worker friends who work hard to keep the city clean,” he said.
Father Yohanes added that the event was also part of efforts to build public awareness of the importance of environmental protection. He noted that the Catholic Church since 2015 has had a special document regarding environmental care which continues to be disseminated to its congregation to encourage greater commitment to preserving the earth.
The breaking of fast event was also attended by representatives from various religions, including delegates from the Forum for Interfaith Harmony (FKUB). According to Father Yohanes, interfaith harmony needs to be realised through concrete actions in community life.
“We live in a multireligious society. Harmony must be a choice of action so that society becomes increasingly peaceful and prosperous,” he said.
The church also provided prayer facilities for Muslim guests so they could perform prayers comfortably after breaking fast.
“Our Muslim friends typically perform prayers after breaking fast. Rather than having to go home first, we provide prayer facilities here,” said Father Yohanes.
Meanwhile, Joko Purnomo, Head of the Pekalongan City Environmental Services Agency, expressed appreciation for the attention given by the church to sanitation workers.
“I greatly appreciate Father and the Saint Peter’s Church team for paying attention to our friends, the sanitation heroes of Pekalongan City,” he said.
He explained that the Pekalongan City DLH has a total of approximately 500 personnel, including civil servants and operational staff. Of this number, approximately 300 attended the breaking of fast event.
Joko also said the event opened opportunities for cooperation between the DLH and the church in educating the community on waste management. One programme being promoted is household waste sorting, which is currently being continuously disseminated by the city government. He added that Saint Peter’s Church also operates a waste bank unit, which forms part of community-based waste management efforts.
“The involvement of religious communities is very important in building public awareness to care more for the environment,” he concluded.