October 12, 2024 – Online via Zoom
Kolping Indonesia’s Task Force Team met with Mrs. Hildegard Hagemann, the Kolping International Consultant for the Asian Kolping Association (AsiKA), in an online meeting held on Saturday, October 12, 2024. Mrs. Hagemann, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, joined the discussion to provide insights and guidance on key preparations for the revitalization of Kolping Indonesia on the momentum of 30th Anniversary of Kolping Indonesia and the upcoming IV National Convention in March 2025.
The meeting, chaired by Paulce Parera, the Task Force Coordinator, focused on two essential topics:
- Planning the regional reflective workshops to engage members at various levels.
- Establishing campaign procedures for the election of the National Board 2025-2030.
All Task Force members attended the meeting, demonstrating their commitment to the organization’s goals:
- Mr. Martinus Todo, National President of Kolping Indonesia
- Sisilia Pawolung, Finance Staff
- Ryan Djebarus, Regional Coordinator from Ruteng Diocese
- Etty Seda, Regional Coordinator from Kupang Diocese
- Adolph Eddy, Regional Coordinator from East Sumba
During the meeting, participants shared experiences and challenges. They all found it meaningful with the online meeting because of the shared experiences and lesson-learned from the sharing. One key issue highlighted was the difficulty in recruiting youth into Kolping membership. There is an awareness of not competing with local churches, in the one hand, and providing meaningful interventions for and with the youth, in the other hand.
Mrs. Hagemann shared her thoughtful inputs during the meeting, based on the experience from Kolping Vietnam’s process in 2023. Her insights encouraged the Task Force to strategically design the workshops that have impacts on the growth of the association.
The meeting concluded with enthusiasm and clarity on the next steps. The Task Force will finalize the workshop agendas and campaign procedures soon, ensuring that Kolping Indonesia is well-prepared for a successful National Convention and leadership transition.
The next phase involves diocesan-level visits and consultations with stakeholders to refine the election process and engage members in the reflective journey leading up to March 2025.