HONG KONG (SE): The Indonesian community bid farewell to its chaplain, Divine Word Missionary Father Heribertus Hadiarto, on August 20, during a Mass held at Christ the King Chapel in Causeway Bay. Father Natalius Suryanto will serve as the new chaplain.
On the same day, the community commemorated its 78th independence day which fell a few days earlier on August 17.
Father Hadiarto left Hong Kong for Belgium on August 29 to pursue a three-year master’s degree in theology and religion at the Catholic University of Leuven.
On August 18, at the Catholic Diocese Centre, Father Suryanto and Father Hadiarto met Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow Sau Yan SJ, who welcomed the new chaplain and wished Father Hadiarto the best on his studies.
The bishop expressed his gratitude for Father Hadiarto’s nearly 10 years of service in a video message during the Mass, and he anticipated that Father Hadiarto will not forget his people in Hong Kong and will return after his studies. “I am confident that the Indonesian community will flourish under the companionship of Father Natalius, and I will continue to pray for you as well as for him,” the bishop told the Indonesian community.
The Mass was concelebrated by Father Hadiarto, Father Suryanto, Father Anthonius Reynolds Balubon and Father Johnson Dhos, the district superior of the Society of Divine Word in Hong Kong and Macau.
Father Dhos thanked Father Hadiarto for his service in Hong Kong and Father Suryanto for taking over the Indonesian chaplaincy. Father Hadiarto thanked the community for its support, love, and contributions. He encouraged Father Suryanto to care for God’s people by always walking with them and bringing them closer to Jesus.
Father Hadiarto has been the chaplain for Indonesians since 2014, following his ordination as a priest in Hong Kong. He is fondly remembered for his efforts over the past nine years to strengthen the faith of the Indonesian Catholic Community and to help those in need. He was also well-loved by parishioners of St. Edward’s, Lam Tin, where he was assistant parish priest.
In collaboration with the Indonesian Catholic Community, he supported the establishment of Peduli Kasih Hong Kong [Hong Kong Care and Charity] as a charitable organisation for Indonesians.
I am confident that the Indonesian community will flourish under the companionship of Father Natalius, and I will continue to pray for you as well as for him,
Bishop Chow
The director of Peduli Kasih Hong Kong, Nathalia Widjaja, expressed her gratitude to Father Hadiarto for his support throughout her journey in the mission of love. In 2015, he invited her to become a catechist for the community, which provided her with a wealth of knowledge regarding migration issues. In December 2019, she informed him of the need to organise her work by setting up an organisation. He immediately agreed and consented to serve on the charity group’s board.
“Whenever we need his presence to assist the poorest of the poor, he is always available,” she said. Furthermore, she expressed gratitude for his openness, which encouraged many ideas and suggestions from community members and helped the Indonesian Catholic Community to work together effectively.
Elly, the Indonesian Catholic Community coordinator, presented a souvenir to Father Hadiarto during the Mass. “He is very humble and understands the situation of our work. He has brought happiness to the community and taken good care of us,” she said.
She expressed regret that she would miss the times they planned activities together and her gratitude for building a second home for them.
During the Mass, Sister Corazon Demetillo, director of the Diocesan Pastoral Center for Filipinos, thanked Father Hadiarto for his contributions to migrants. She said that the day was not a time of tears, as Father Hadiarto must continue his life’s journey.
Father Suryanto conducted a blessing ceremony following the Mass for the council members and community coordinators.
He came to Hong Kong in 2018. In 2019, he became the assistant parish priest of Holy Family Parish, Choi Hung, and began serving the Indonesian community on special occasions.
