The first parish of the Order in Indonesia was inaugurated by the Archbishop of Pontianak in Kecamatan Ledo on the Solemnity of St. Augustine.
The Augustinian Recollects already have their first parish in Indonesia. The Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno and the Archdiocese of Pontianak inaugurated the new church in Kecamatan Ledo, Kebupaten Bengkayang, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia, last August 28, 2022, on the Solemnity of St. Augustine. The new parish was declared as “Paroki Santo Agustinus dari Hippo-Ledo” (St. Augustine Parish of Hippo-Ledo), which will consist of 26 stasi (chapels).
The Eucharist was presided over by the Archbishop of Pontianak, Msgr. Agustinus Agus. Agustinus Agus. Many lay faithful, clergy and government officials attended the Eucharist and the inaugural ceremony. Representing the Province of St. Ezekiel Moreno were fray Anthony Morillo, president of the Secretariat of the Missionary and Ministerial Apostolate, and fray Edgar Tubio, head of the Missionary Apostolate Section.
Three religious make up the missionary community in Indonesia: Russel Lapidez, who will serve as prior of the community and pastor, Jovy Gallego and James Erold Gatinao, the latter who will soon be ordained a priest. The community will be located in Ledo, in the region of Kebupaten Bengkayang, in the state of West Borneo. The Augustinian Recollect missionaries will depend on the Archdiocese of Pontianak.
The highlight was the Holy Mass, where Bishop Agus signed the inauguration document, the ribbon cutting of the parish and the subsequent celebration.
On September 19, 2018, fray Russel Lapidez and fray Dominador Mercado arrived together with the then Prior Provincial, Dionisio Selma, and the head of the Secretariat of Mission Apostolate, Edgar Tubio, to initiate the presence of the Augustinian Recollects in Indonesia.
