- Leo Soekoto
Monsignor Leo Soekoto SJ (born
23 October 1920 in Jali,Yogyakarta , died30 December 1995 inSemarang ,Indonesia ) was the Archbishop of Jakarta from15 August 1970 until his death.Early life
Soekoto is the son of Wongsosentono and Soeratinah. When he was going to Hollandsch-Inlandsche School (HIS), he got his call to become a priest. He entered a
Seminary at Jalan Code (now known as Jalan Abubakar Ali),Yogyakarta for 6 years, after which he entered Serikat Jesus (SJ).Careers
He was ordained a
priest on22 August 1953 inMaastricht ,Netherlands . On 1958 he returned toIndonesia .On
15 November 1966 he was called toJakarta by the then Archbishop of Jakarta, Adrianus Djajasepoetra, as the Secretary of Archdiose of Jakarta. On25 November 1967 , he became theVicar General of Archdiose of Jakarta while he was also a priest in Blok B parish, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.On
25 May 1970 he received a notice from thePope that he had been appointed the Archbishop of Jakarta, effective1 July 1970 . He was inaugurated on15 August 1970 by the then Archbishop of SemarangJustinus Darmojuwono in Istora Senayan,Jakarta . On the same year, he became the secretary of Majelis Agung Wali Gereja Indonesia (MAWI).On
17 July 1993 , he was appointed by the Pope as "Administrator Apostolik ad Nutum Sanctae Sedis" for Diocese ofBogor until23 October 1994 , when the Diocese of Bogor had a new Bishop, Monsignor Michael Angkur, OFM.Decided to retire as Archbishop of Jakarta on
10 November 1995 , he then moved to Girisonta,Central Java .Death
Soekoto suffered
cancer and died on Saturday,30 December 1995 inSaint Elizabeth Hospital,Semarang , and was buried in Girisonta, Karangjati, Ungaran,Central Java on1 January 1997 which was presided by the then head ofSociety of Jesus Indonesia, CB Putranto SJ.A
Requiem mass preceded the burial inCathedral ofSemarang , presided by the then Archbishop of Semarang Julius Kardinal Darmaatmadja (succeeding Soekoto as incumbent Archbishop of Jakarta) accompanied by Mgr Alexander Djajasiswaja, Pr (Bishop ofBandung ) and MgrMikael Angkur OFM (Bishop ofBogor ). Other bishops were in attendance (Mgr Pandoyo Pr (Bishop ofMalang ), Mgr Hadiwikarta SJ (Bishop ofSurabaya ), Mgr Hardjosumarto Pr (Bishop ofPurwokerto ), Mgr Martinus D. Sitomarang (Bishop ofPadang ), Mgr Pudjorahardjo (Bishop ofKetapang ), Mgr Mandagi (Bishop ofAmbon ), and other 60 priests.Also in attendance was the then ambassador of Vatican, Mgr
Pietro Sambi , and the then Governor ofCentral Java Soewardi.Education
* Hollandsch-Inlandsche School (HIS), Yogyakarta, Indonesia (1937)
* Seminari Menengah (Seminary), Yogyakarta, Indonesia (1943)
* Hidup Rohani High School, Ungaran, Indonesia (1947)
* Philosophy School, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (1950)
* Teology School, Netherlands (1954)
* University of Gregoriana, Rome, Italy (1955)
* Spiritual School, Muenster, West German (1955)
* Church Law, Rome, Italy (1958)External links
*id [http://www.katedraljakarta.or.id/paragembala_uskup12.htm Short Biography from Archdiocese of Jakarta website]
*id [http://www.keuskupanbogor.org/uskup/mgrleo.htm Short Biography from Diocese of Bogor website]
*id [http://www.library.ohiou.edu/indopubs/1996/01/01/0026.html Funeral of Mgr Leo Soekoto]
*en [http://catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bsoekoto.html Catholic Hierarchy data of Leo Soekoto]
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