New archbishop stresses pastoral care

The newly appointed archbishop of Medan, in western Indonesia, says he will prioritize pastoral care for families and holistic development of all Catholics.

Newly appointed Capuchin Archbishop Anicetus Bongsu Antonius Sinaga.

On Feb. 12, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Capuchin Archbishop Anicetus Bongsu Antonius Sinaga, Coadjutor Archbishop of Medan, as head of the same archdiocese on Sumatra Island. At the same time, the Pope accepted the resignation of Capuchin Archbishop Alfred Gonti Pius Datubara of Medan, who reached the canonical retirement age of 75 on Feb. 12.

The installation ceremony for the new archdiocesan head is scheduled for Feb. 22.

Archbishop Sinaga, 67, said he plans to give priority to “pastoral care for families, holistic education for priests and Religious, and school and parish development.” He also promised to keep encouraging Catholics to participate in regional development, to show that Catholics here are 100 percent Catholic as well as 100 percent Indonesian citizens.

Referring to his episcopal motto, Ad pasquam et aquas conducit me (In green pastures and safe waters he leads me, Psalm 23:2), he said he hopes his “episcopal ministry brings refreshment to Catholics.”

Archbishop Sinaga was born on Sept. 25, 1941, in Negeri Asi village, North Sumatra province. He was ordained a Capuchin priest in 1969. In 1981, he was ordained Bishop of Sibolga, also in North Sumatra. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Medan in 2004.

Medan archdiocese, based in the North Sumatra provincial capital, had 596,836 Catholics in 44 parishes, according to the 2005 Indonesian Catholic Church Directory.

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