Indonesia: Lone Muslim graduates Catholic College

"Why do you attend a Catholic college run by Religious sisters?" is a question that Farid A.M. says he used to get from fellow Muslims when he attended a Catholic college in Flores.

"Sometimes I would get tired hearing that question," Farid told UCA News recently, after graduating from Community Development College of St. Ursula. "Other times, however, I think it provided a good opportunity for me to help other Muslims know about the Catholic educational institution."

The college in Ende, a district capital 1,630 kilometers east of Jakarta, is on Flores Island, where Catholics account for about 85 percent of residents.

The 63 other students who graduated in November with Farid were Catholics. The college's current 200 students comprise 178 Catholics, 13 Muslims and nine Protestants.

According to Farid, some Muslims also asked him how he was treated, if he was scared and even whether he knew it was a Catholic educational college.

His replies, he said, were always along the lines of: "Nothing. They treat me well. They do not prevent me from befriending other students on campus. No discriminatory treatment."

In fact, according to Farid, he was even elected secretary of the student executive board and was also the school's representative in a science competition held in Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province.

During his time at the college, he added, he never experienced anyone trying to convert him to Catholicism. What he learned "from the religious sisters" was the importance of "commitment and responsibility" in one's life, he said, adding that he would share these values with the people he now serves.

Since early December, Farid has been working as an honorary counselor for Small and Medium Enterprises established by Ende's Office for Cooperatives and Small-Medium Enterprises. His task involves motivating and organizing people involved in these enterprises, and helping them manage their financial affairs. He wants to "help empower the poor and low-income villagers."

The oldest of three children, Farid went to the Ursuline-run college in 2001 with his parents' support. Asked why he chose the college, he answered, "Because I know that schools owned by the Catholic mission are far superior to others in terms of educational formation and intellectual development."

Sister Ita Batmomolin, the college director, told UCA News on Dec. 15 that in line with the Ursuline spirit of service, her institution welcomes students regardless of their religious or ethnic background. "We always prioritize (interreligious) dialogue. We want to share our spiritual and academic wealth with all people," she said.

The director explained that her Ursuline community started the college to empower the people of Flores economically and socially. "Our focus is to develop the rural society by helping poor Catholics, Muslims and Protestants have the initiative and skills to survive," she stated.

Since the 1970s, the sisters have run courses on agriculture, poultry raising, gardening, carpentry, cottage industries, rural administration and rural women's empowerment.

Today the college has two academic programs: social development and community development. The sisters also run an elementary school and a junior high school in Ende.

The Ursulines, who arrived in Indonesia in 1856, came to Flores in 1970. IN addition to their community in Ende archdiocese, central Flores, they have three other convents on the island, all in Ruteng diocese, western Flores. Two other dioceses also serve parts of the island -- Larantuka in eastern Flores and Maumere, recently carved out of Ende.