On Sunday, September 27, 2026, Saint Mary Regina Church in Solo was filled with joy. The faithful gathered from parishioners and guests to celebrate the First Mass of Fr. Ignatius Himawan Sulaksono, SS.CC, a son of Purbowardayan Parish. This First Mass followed his priestly ordination, which he had received on September 22, 2026, in Mito, at Holy Family Parish, Japan. Having been ordained in the mission land, Fr. Himawan now returned to his homeland to offer his first Eucharist together with his family, the faithful, and the communities that have accompanied his vocation.
The church was filled with Many of the faithful. Not only parishioners of Purbowardayan were present, but also the SS.CC scholastic brothers from Yogyakarta and the sisters from Yogyakarta, who came to pray for and stand beside their brother on this special day. The presence of so many fellow believers made the celebration truly a shared one: it belonged not only to a newly ordained priest, but to the whole Church, which gives thanks for the gift of vocation.
Fr. Himawan presided at the Eucharist, accompanied by eight concelebrating priests. Among them were the parish priest of Saint Mary Regina Church in Solo, Fr. Heribertus Suprihadi, Pr; the Episcopal Vicar of the Surakarta Vicariate, Fr. Herman Yoseph Singgih Sutoro, Pr; and the Provincial of the SS.CC Indonesia Province, Fr. Pankras Olak, SS.CC. The presence of priests from the diocese and from the congregation was a sign of priestly fellowship and warm support for the newly ordained.
Throughout the celebration, the faithful followed the liturgy with reverence and gratitude. There was a special tenderness in seeing the young priest stand at the altar for the first time among people who had known him since childhood, lift the chalice, and pray the words of consecration before his family and those who had prayed for him for many years. Not a few of the faithful were moved as they witnessed the fruit of a vocation that had grown in their own parish.
At the end of the Mass, words of thanks were offered to God, to his family, to his formators and mentors, to the organizing committee, to the priests, religious brothers and sisters, and to all the faithful who have supported Fr. Himawan on his vocational journey. Everyone was invited to keep praying that the new priest may faithfully serve with love until the end of his life, as expressed in his priestly motto, “I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
After the Mass, the celebration continued with a fellowship gathering in Aula Albertus. The faithful, family members, priests, brothers, and sisters came together in a warm, family-like atmosphere. Speeches, congratulations, and prayers flowed from many people. Group photos and heartfelt greetings filled the gathering, giving parishioners a chance to greet and pray personally for the new priest who was born from their own parish.
The thanksgiving event was also enlivened by performances from the children and young people of the parish. They performed cheerfully on stage, welcomed with applause and laughter from the guests. This simple yet spirited performance presented a young and joyful face of the Church, and was also an expression of love and support from the younger generation for the newly ordained priest.
The entire celebration in Solo took place in an atmosphere of joy and abundant blessing. The faithful went home with hearts full of gratitude, carrying the memory of the first Eucharist of a son of their own parish.
After the celebration in Solo, the First Mass continued at the Griya Tias Dalem Scholasticate Community in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. In a quieter and more intimate setting, Fr. Himawan once again offered the Eucharist together with the sisters, the brothers, and a number of the faithful. For the scholasticate community, this celebration held deep meaning: in this house of formation, the brothers study, pray, and grow in their vocation, and now they saw their own brother offer the Eucharist as a priest.
The Mass at Griya Tias Dalem was also very special and full of blessings. The fellowship among the new priest, the brothers, the sisters, and the faithful who were present reaffirmed the spirit of brotherhood in the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, which calls each of its members to be a witness to God’s love and mercy in the world.
May this First Mass be the beginning of a fruitful ministry for Fr. Himawan. May he always be strengthened by the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary as he proclaims God’s merciful love, and may his vocation inspire many young people to courageously answer the Lord’s call.
Fr. Krisantus Ane , SS.CC