A YEAR IN PILGRIMAGE: THANK YOU 2019

Ave Ave Ave Maria

Ave Ave Ave Maria

Di Lourdes di gua sunyi terpencil
Tampaklah Maria perawan murni

(Indonesian version of Ave Maria Song 

 presented at the Candle-lit procession each night in Lourdes)

            Welcome 2020, thank you 2019. As we usher the new year, let's review our achievements and failures on the passing year. The year of 2019 will always hold a special place in my heart. 

            On a personal note, it is the year that marks my four decades of existence. Academically, I experienced Doctoral graduation from the University of Sydney in Australia, Senior Diplomatic Course Batch 60 (SESPARLU) graduation in Indonesia and Senior Diplomatic Training Course in Clingendael, The Netherlands last year. Professionally, there are some accomplishments in my daily work as a diplomat. 

            One more special thing about 2019 is that it is a pilgrimage year for me. I am thankful to God for the chance of conducting a few pilgrimages last year. From January to December, the year has rewarded me with trips to the center of Catholic pilgrimages in Indonesia, and abroad. Saint Mary's Grotto in Kerep, Ambarawa, together with Saint Mary's Grotto in Sendangsono, have served as Centers for Catholics pilgrimages in Indonesia for decades. 

            Vatican, the Papal city-state, is a must visit to all Catholics, at least once in a lifetime. During my post in Geneva last decade, I had the chance to visit Vatican a few times. However, the 2019 pilgrimage was thoroughly exceptional as I got to invite my parents to join me. 

            The Grotto of Saint Mary in Lourdes, where Saint Bernadette received the apparition of Blessed Virgin Mary almost 2 centuries ago remains the core of Catholic pilgrimage in Europe. This sacred Sanctuary are frequented by approximately 5 million pilgrims from 140 countries annually.

            For each tourist visiting Paris, their trip would be incomplete without a visit to Eiffel and Sacre Coeur Basilica, the two most famous landmarks of the City of Lights. 

            The Sacred Heart Basilica (Sacre-Coeur) in Paris, has served as a famous landmark in Paris not only for the Christians but also each tourist visiting the romantic Montmartre area.

            

            There are also less known pilgrimage sites, such as the Mariastein Abbey in Switzerland. A solemn village that attracts local pilgrims. I had a chance to first visit the Mariastein more than a decade ago. Utterly grateful to return for attending a Holy Eucharist and prayer. 

            

            For each pilgrimage, preparing our hearts and minds are our number one priority. Yet, it is no less important to prepare our outfits to respect the solemnity of the religious sites. Another reason is to promote our Indonesian Batik attires. 

            Stay updated with JET's fashion diplomacy adventure, follow him in Instagram (@JETANDJUNG) and twitter (@JETFABDIPLOMACY) as well as this blog (http://jetfashiondiplomacy.blogspot.com/).

Catatan Singkat untuk Rekans Diplomat dan Sahabat Batik/Wastra

Sahabat-sahabat JET yang terkasih, Ziarah yang didasari doa yang tulus niscaya akan diberkati oleh Sang Pencipta, Allah Yang Maha Pengasih. 

Siapkan hati dan pikiran serta fisik saat hendak berziarah. Jangan lupa untuk tetap mengutamakan busana Indonesia saat berziarah. Bahkan saat ziarah di musim dingin, pilihlah syal Batik dari bahan wol atau cashmere. 

Happy new year 2020 and blessed pilgrimage to you all. 

I hope my pilgrimage diary in Four Seasons of 2019 will inspire you to conduct you and your family's pilgrimages.

Spring 2019

INDONESIA

Gua Santa Maria (Saint Mary's Grotto) in Kerep, Ambarawa, Central Java Province, Indonesia. 

The larger than life Maria Assumpta (Saint Mary Ascended into Heaven) a new landmark of the Grotto in Kerep, Ambarawa. 

Lighting candles. May the lit candles symbolize our sincere faith to God The Almighty.

Eat like the locals in Kerep: cassava leaves & tofu fritters. Nom nommm. 

Gua Santa Maria (Saint Mary's Grotto) Rosa Mystica located in Tuntang, Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. 

SWITZERLAND

Gruezi Mariastein (http://www.kloster-mariastein.ch/en/)

Wearing Batik jacket in front of the Mariastein Church and Abbey, Solothurn Canton, Switzerland. 

The long staircases are no barriers for pilgrims coming to Mariastein.

Super grateful to return for a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Mariastein, after more than a decade.

The heart and the destination of the pilgrimage of Mariastein is the shrine. In the course of the centuries, the rocky cave was converted into a harmonious chapel, which is reached by a staircase with 59 steps, which has been carved into the rock. The chapel was first documented in 1434. Since 1442 it is also known why there is a chapel of the Virgin Mary: a boy has fallen down into the valley at this point, and has miraculously been unharmed by the intercession of the Mother of God. 

The miraculous Statues of Blessed Virgin Mary whose Immaculate Heart is pierced with 7 swords. Look at the original medieval fresco above the statue. 

Terima kasih, merci Mbak Jihan. 

This Geneva-based Indonesian lady is a good friend who has been so kind in travelling with me to this sacred place. God bless you and your family, dear. 

Summer 2019

FRANCE

Ave Ave Maria in Lourdes (https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/)

Deeply thankful for the Grace of God for this pilgrimage to Lourdes. My parents took me for the very first time to this miraculous Shrine when I was barely 3 years old. My last visit to Lourdes was before I left Geneva almost a decade ago.

To mark this special pilgrimage, my parents and I are dressed in Batik. My Dad and I wore contemporary Batik shirts and Mom wore a Batik hand-painted shawl by Langit Batik. 

Saint Bernadette Soubirous, (https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/bernadette-soubirous/), the little girl that changed the world. Meet the blessed young lady that was graced with apparitions of Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus (https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/apparitions/).

It was here that Virgin Mary her Immaculate Conception identity to Saint Bernadette. After the apparitions, people began to visit and prayed in these grounds. Then the Sanctuary was built. 

2019, themed The Year of The Poor, is a special year to visit Lourdes as it marks the 175th birthday of Saint Bernadette and 140th anniversary of her death. 

Truly proud of Mrs Henny Tandjung, aka my Mom, who got to be selected in representing Indonesia to deliver the prayer of Salam Maria, Indonesian language version of Hail Mary, during Rosary prayer. 

A million of pilgrims flocked and followed the candle procession. 

After the procession.. So peaceful and serene. 

Healthy body makes an active pilgrimage. :)

In one of our favourite restaurants in Lourdes, Café Brasserie Les Brancardiers that serve French and continental cuisine. 

Mom in front of Basilica de Sacre Couer (Sacred Heart Basilica) in Montmartre, Paris (http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/)

VATICAN

In front of St Peter's Basilica, the seat of Popes since Saint Peter (https://www.vaticanstate.va/it/). Mom wear Batik shawl by Batik Komar and I wore a yellow Batik shirt by Bin House. 

The Angelus prayer delivered by His Eminence Pope Francis. What a blessed Sunday.

Guardian angels 

Popes from time to time

The Swiss guards faithfully protect Vatican. 

ITALY

JET with parents in the Miraculous Shrine of Saint Mary, Our Lady of Revelation in Tre Fontane, Rome.

Utterly surprised to meet Indonesian nuns and got a chance to pray with them inside the Shrine

Our Lady of Revelation, a less known yet deeply loved Catholic pilgrimage site in Rome, Italy.

Autumn

INDONESIA

Mr Jos and Mrs Henny Tandjung, my parents, in front of the miraculous Statue of Jesus Christ after the Crucifixion in the Carmelite Monastery in Lembang, West Java province, Indonesia (https://jadwal-misa.info/index.php/view/detil/136).

Winter

FRANCE

At the Miraculous Medal Chapel, where in 1830 (http://www.chapellenotredamedelamedaillemiraculeuse.com/) Saint Catherine Laboure was asked by Blessed Virgin Mary to make this medal. 

Saint Catherine Laboure's body is placed in a glass coffin underneath the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary holding the world

Merci Ma Mere Marie

Thank you My Mother Mary

These thank you plaques are placed in front of the Sanctuary to give thanks to Blessed Virgin Mary for granting the prayers of pilgrims.

Thank you, God, for granting JET and parents this memorable pilgrimage. 

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