Bicentenary – Celebrating the precious legacy in Indonesia

Pontianak and Jerora: sisters, the faithful and lay friends gathered to celebrate the legacy of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret on Indonesian soil: two centuries of the flame of charity.

Time seemed to pass slowly during this special week, immersed in the joy and solemnity that enveloped the Sisters, the Friends of Saint Jeanne Antide, and the community of the faithful in Indonesia, particularly in the communities of Pontianak and Jerora.

Celebrating the Bicentenary of the birth into heaven of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret is certainly not a brief period in history, but for those who live her spirituality, the celebration of the Bicentenary of her death represents an opportunity to keep alive the flame of love that she kindled in France centuries ago.

The initial inspiration to organise this commemorative celebration arose from the desire to honour the beginnings of Saint Jeanne’s mission on Indonesian soil.

To ensure this event was not merely a commemoration, it was deemed appropriate to organise it on the Solemn Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, 25 March 2026.

In the tradition of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, this date represents a moment of universal communion in which all the sisters scattered throughout the world gather spiritually for the renewal of their religious vows.

A spark of enthusiasm

It would have been fitting to celebrate together with the faithful and the Friends of Saint Jeanne Antide: the response from the faithful and the Friends of Jeanne Antide was truly unexpected!

As soon as the project was launched, their enthusiasm exploded like a desire that had found its fulfilment.

There was no sense of a burdensome obligation on their part; what emerged instead was a passion to give their very best. The faithful from all walks of life, from the elderly to the dynamic young, welcomed this invitation with open arms. They realised that the 200th anniversary of Saint Giovanna’s death is not just a date on the liturgical calendar, but an invitation to return to the roots of their spirituality: humble service.

Participation: the heart of a celebration

The distinctive feature of this celebration lies in the spirit of sincere and active participation shown by everyone, which transformed the space of the celebration into a place not merely filled with rows of chairs, but made sacred by the hard work and deep dedication of the faithful.

This synergy took the form of mutual and generous collaboration, particularly evident in the preparation of the decorations which, in their splendour, retain a very rich symbolic meaning, the fruit of a shared commitment.

In this context, the faithful and the Friends of AJA went beyond the role of mere spectators to become bearers of a concrete offering of devotion, ranging from the choir singing hymns of thanksgiving, to the careful attention paid to sharing, right through to the fundamental task of ensuring the utmost comfort for every guest present.

The high point of this celebration was when all the sisters and the faithful came together to take part in the Eucharistic celebration. Although Saint Joanna Antida died two centuries ago, the values she left us as a legacy—courage in suffering, unconditional love for the poor and perseverance in faith—have proved still relevant today and beat strongly in the face of the challenges of our times.

This feast is tangible proof that a solid spirituality is capable of transcending temporal and geographical boundaries.

The great enthusiasm of the faithful demonstrates that the figure of Saint Joanna Antida is not merely a static historical figure, but a model of life that continues to inspire and strengthen their steps in the service of others in the present.