Javanese ‘need teaching about funerals’

CHURCH jurisdictions in the Java region and in Lampung province in Sumatra are calling for Catholics to be educated in funeral rites since many are unclear about them.

Such education should teach skills on drafting pastoral guidelines and a guidebook for funeral liturgy, catechesis on funeral liturgy and inculturation, which can be done based on common study of local funeral traditions.

The recommendations were the result of a November 25-27 meeting at the Hening Griya Pastoral House in Baturaden, in Central Java attended by about 100 representatives.

According to Carmelite Father Bosco da Cunha, secretary of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference’s Commission for Liturgy, Catholics “still have many simple questions [about funeral liturgy],” he said.

Father Paulus Supriya from Semarang archdiocese said the scattering of ashes at sea is frequently asked about.

Report from ucanews.com