‘Lewotobi was a symbol of harmony, now we need solidarity’

From the island of Flores, where 10 people lost their lives in the eruption of November 3 and thousands more have been displaced by the phenomena that continue, comes the message of Bishop Kopong Kung: “It is a wonderful mountain formed by two peaks that local people call ‘the husband’ and ‘the wife’. The destruction is serious, we have been deeply affected.” All Catholic communities in Indonesia have mobilized and are raising funds.

Jakarta ()- The situation on the island of Flores remains very serious as a result of the eruption of the Mount Lewotobi volcano last Sunday, which caused the death of 10 people. The phenomena continue and have forced thousands of people to leave their homes. Catholic communities across the country have mobilized in solidarity with this emergency. “At the moment we are concentrating on providing basic necessities to around 1,000 survivors,” he tells Eko Sugiyanto, from Caritas Indonesiawhich in a few days has already raised more than 1,000 million rupees (about 60,000 euros ed.). There are still around 4,000 people who have not found shelter, and therefore a reconstruction program will need to be launched when the next wave of ash has completely passed. We publish below the call for solidarity addressed to the Catholics of Indonesia by the bishop of Larantuka – the local diocese – where he tells the unique story of Mount Lewotobi.

My name is Fransiskus Kopong Kung, I am the bishop of the diocese of Larantuka, on the island of Flores, Indonesia. I want to share with you a brief story and my reflection on the eruption of the Lewotobi volcanic mountain, which is located in our diocese. And call to help people who suffer and have been affected by this eruption.

Lewotobi, a wonderful mountain

Located in the eastern part of the island of Flores, Lewotobi is a wonderful mountain. It contains a very deep and significant message and values ​​for our lives. This volcanic mountain rises, in fact, like a pair of two peaks, as if they were husband and wife.

The local population calls this couple “laki-laki” (man/husband) and “perempuan” (woman/wife). This is very interesting: they have the local wisdom to treat this mountain like human beings, like husband and wife, living together in harmony in their home.

At some special times they bring offerings to this mountain couple. This tells us how important it is to live in harmony with God, with ancestors, with neighbors and with all human beings, with nature and all creatures.

These two mountains are the symbol of human life, of man and woman, of husband and wife, of family and home. Living together in harmony, in brotherhood, as one family in peace with everyone, is a necessity. That is why we need to build good relationships with God, with the ancestors, with all human beings, with nature and with all creatures. Disobedience or actions contrary to harmony, according to the oldest beliefs of these people, will bring disasters, problems, suffering… And when this happens, it is necessary to hold a reconciliation ceremony according to their “adat” (customs and traditions). .

The eruption of November 3

On November 3 at 11:45 p.m. this pair of mountains – especially the “husband” – erupted, and a great explosion of boiling jets and incandescent stones from the mountain caused great disasters and suffering. Loved people, families, brothers and sisters died.

According to data provided by Caritas Larantuka, ten people died, including a nun, Nikolin Pajo, superior of the house of the Missionary Servants of the Holy Spirit in Hokeng. She died locked in her room and burned by a large incandescent stone coming from the mountain. No one could help her out of her room: it was very sad. Many houses, school buildings, the convent of the Hokeng sisters, the Santo Domingo Minor Seminary building, the retreat house, the student dormitory and many other structures were burned and destroyed in this eruption.

We are truly saddened. We are deeply hurt

What can we do in these conditions and in this situation? There are many people who suffer as a result of the rash. They need help, many families have lost their loved ones, their houses were burned and destroyed. They abandoned their home and had to go to another place to save their lives. The Hokeng Minor Seminary building caught fire and must be rebuilt. In the villages around the mountain, more than 2,600 houses need to be rebuilt. In these conditions and in this situation the needs are many.

We want to ask and touch your heart to help us. Let us express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters suffering at the site of the disaster caused by the eruption of the Lewotobi volcanic mountain in Larantuka, Flores Oriental, Indonesia. We are called to help them.

* Bishop of Larantuka

(With the collaboration of Nirmala Carvalho and Mathias Hariyadi)