Indonesia – The AJA Retreat in Pontianak

On the occasion of the birth of St Joan Antida: The group of the Friends of St Joan Antida of Pontianak was inaugurated in 2005: Sr Leonarda Perini, a missionary of Italian origin started with some families, inviting these Friends to visit the sick in their homes and in the hospital in Pontianak, capital of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan, a medium-sized industrial city on the west coast of Borneo.

On 27 November 2024, on the occasion of the birth of St Joan Antida in Sancey, the Friends are gathered in the community of the Sisters of Charity in Pontianak for a spiritual retreat.

The Spiritual Retreat is a tradition for the AJA Group, twice a year, in Lent and Advent. This year, the Friends chose the date of Joan Antida’s birth to learn more about the life and charism of the holy foundress.  Thus, they also celebrated the birthday of St Joan Antida: the memory of her gives them courage to carry out their service with a big heart.

They are a small group, but they are happy to be Friends of St Joan Antida. This same happiness was expressed by them as they shared their lives during the Retreat.   One Friend related that her joining the Group was due to her husband’s illness: the sisters and Friends visited him often and then she decided to be a member of the AJA. They are aware that they are not doing great things, but they feel the importance of the presence of a Friend who visits, who becomes a neighbour, who supports, especially in times of crisis and difficulty

Visiting the sick is indeed the primary commitment of this Group.