Another options for those who wish to have another sites for doing the pilgrimage such as :
- Ganjuran,
The Church of Ganjuran, Seeing Jesus in Javanese Face
Ganjuran Jesus Sacred Heart Church, as its complete name, which is located around 20 kilometers from Yogyakarta can be reached by motorcycle or car. The scenery of the green rice field and pine trees will welcome you upon entering the Ganjuran village where this church is located. Visiting this church, you will know the history of the church, enculturation of Catholic people with local community and finally you will get peacefulness.
The complex of Ganjuran church was built in 1924 with the initiative of two Dutch relatives, namely Joseph Smutzer and Julius Smutzer. This church is one of the buildings built by the two relatives since they managed Gondang Lipura Sugar Factory in the area in 1912. Other buildings they constructed were 12 schools and one clinic as the embryo of Panti Rapih Hospital.
This church that was designed by a Dutch architect J Yh van Oyen is one form of church social spirit (Rerum Navarum) that the two Dutch relatives had, namely the spirit to love others, especially the surrounding community most of them were workers in Gondang Lipuro Sugar Factory who reached its golden time in 1918 – 1930.
In its development, the church complex was completed with the construction of a temple named Jesus Sacred Heart Temple in 1927. The temple with the terrace decorated with lotus flower and the statue of Jesus in Javanese clothes becomes another choice to celebrate holy mass and pilgrimage, in addition to the church offering closeness with Javanese culture.
Walking around the church, you will realize that this building was designed by integrating European, Hindu, and Javanese styles. European style is seen from the shape of the building forming a cross from above view, while Javanese style is seen from the roof forming tajug that is supported by four teakwood pillars, symbolizing four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Javanese nuance is seen at the alter, sancristi (where instruments for mass celebration are kept), doopvont (water containter for baptizing) and chatevummenen (the place of the teacher of Catholic religion). The statues of Jesus and Mary who is carrying Her son are depicted in Javanese clothes. The reliefs at every stop of the Sacrification Path Jesus is described as having hairs of Hindu monks.
You can take holy water from the left side of the temple. After taking water, you can sit cross-legged in front of the temple and say the prayer. The procession of the celebration is ended by entering the temple and say your prayer in front of Christ statue. Some pilgrims take the water and put it in a bottle then take it home after they pray for it.
If you want to take part in holy mass celebration done in Javanese language with songs accompanied by gamelan, you can come to this church on Thursdays to Sundays at 05:30 a.m., every night of first Friday, each Christmas and on Saturdays at 05:00 p.m. The holy mass is done at the yard of the temple, except daily mass at 05:30 a.m. that is done in the church.
After completing the celebration or pilgrimage, take your time to talk with local people in order to know the history of Ganjuran village where the church is located. In Javanese old history, Ganjuran was part of Alas Mentaok territory named Lipuro. The place was used by Senopati to meditate and was planned to become the center of Mataram kingdom.
The change of the name to Ganjuran itself was related to love story of Ki Ageng Mangir and Rara Pembayun who was exiled by Mataram. The love story of the two person later inspired the creation of the Javanese song: Kala Ganjur, which means human basic binding line in living life together based on love. It was from the name of the song that the name Lipuro of the village changed to Ganjuran.
If you spend time talking with local people, there are many other stories to explore, such as the cancellation of Lipuro to become the center of Mataram Kingdom, the reason for exiling Ki Ageng Mangir and Roro Pembayun and so on.
Sendangsono
Sendangsono lies on the slope of Menoreh Mountain range in Kulon Progo Regency, about 40 km from Yogyakarta. The word Sendang means a spring, whereas Sono is the name of a giant tree. Thus Sendangsono means a spring under Sono tree. It is considered to be the holy place for the catholic, and it can be regarded as the Lourdes of Southeast Asia. During May and October, the worship to Holy Marie – Queen of Heaven – usually held by thousands catholic there. Thousands of people from many different regions in Indonesia and even abroad come visit Sendangsono to make their pilgrimage. From the main road they have to make their way on foot up to the hill through the narrow path for about 3 km, where they will find Promasan church. The next 2 km path between Promasan up to Sendangsono complex is called the cruxification path. At Sendangsono they usually take some water from the spring and put into bottles or other containers, and then place them under the statue of Holy Marie. The glimmering lights of hundreds of candles lit around the solemnly Marie. They usually take some water as useful means of well being believing that the purified water of Sendangsono will bring peace and it may be used to heal diseases or to purify/bless certain places. The way leading to Sendangsono is a winding path with valleys and green hills alongside. The environment at Sendangsono itself is very pleasant with shady trees creating a cool and calm atmosphere for the visitors
Sendang Sriningsih, the Medium of God’s Blessing
The Sub-district of Prambanan that by far is famous for temple tourism objects that are full of Hindu-Bu
dha nuance turns to have other tourism object with Christian nuance. Sendang Sriningsih is one of them, a pilgrimage place in the form of eternal water spring and Maria Cave that is located in Gayamharjo, in between Bukit Ijo and Mintorogo. It is reachable by motorcycle or car. Going eastwards from Prambanan temple, you will have to turn right upon arriving at the third T-junction.
The history of Sendang Sriningsih began in 1934, when a Jesuit priest named D Hardjosuwondo SJ who was assigned in Jali village visited the place that used to be called Sendang Duren. Enchanted by the spiritual aura of the place, he then constructed the location around the water spring to become a pilgrimage place and he then named it Sendang Sriningsih, meaning the medium of God’s blessing to His people.
Once you arrive the place, you can directly begin celebration process by tracking the sacrification path. The route is designed in the form of ascending stairs as long as 900 meters. Like any other sacrification path route, there are relief along the path telling the journey of Jesus shouldering the wooden cross. You may say your prayer while tracking the route.
Sacrification path ends when you come to small T-junction, turn right and see a big cross with Jesus effigy nailed on the cross. The location of cross is named precisely the same with the hill where Jesus was crucified, namely Golgotha. You can light candles beneath the cross and say your prayer. Quite many people pray in this place when YogYES visited.
If you want to see the spring and Maria Cave, you turn left from the small T-junction. According to the story, Sendang Sriningsih has become a lake beneath the earth and the bank of it is cemented and the upper part is covered with plate to keep the water clean. To take the water, you can open the tap at the right side of the spring. There is belief that the water can cure illnesses.
As high as four meters Mary Cave where pilgrims execute devotion is located to the right of the spring. The place is quite vast and cool to pray under big trees. By Christmas time, when YogYES visited, there are many pilgrims praying in this Mary Cave. Usually, people come in groups or with familiy or school colleagues.
Walking leftwards from the cave to go upwards, you will see big Cross with the writing at the back reading tertier millenium, symbolizing millenium change. If you look straight ahead, you will see the green hill scenery and housing around the area. When you get tired, you can take a rest in the shelter while enjoying the breeze.
Celebrations are done nine times in one year every Fridays night at certain Javanese calendar time called Jumat Kliwon as a sacred day for Javanese people. Afterwards, holy mass is celebrated with as many as 3,000 pilgrims involved. Such holy ritual shows harmony of Javanese culture and Catholic culture in the area.
One of other attractive factor of this place is the water of the spring that is believed to be able to give safety and deliver people from illness
- Kerep cave
- Pohsarang
