Bishop Anton Pain Ratu, SVD, the Bishop Emeritus of Atambua Diocese, passed away at the age of 95 years old at 10:11 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Regional General Hospital (RSUD), Mgr. Gabriel Manek, SVD, Atambua, Indonesia.
"With profound sorrow, we inform the Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Nuns, and all the faithful that Mgr. Anton Pain Ratu, SVD, has passed away at the age of 95," said Father Vinsentius Wun, SVD, Vicar General of the Atambua Diocese, in a statement on January 6, 2024.
Bishop Anton Pain Ratu, who was born in Lamawolo, Ile Boleng, East Flores, on January 2, 1929, is now the eldest bishop ever living in Indonesia.
The founder of the Maranatha Congregation served as bishop of Atambua from 1984 until his age-related resignation on June 2, 2007.
He attended Leworere People's School, Tanah Boleng, Adonara Island, for his primary education in 1939. Subsequently, he pursued his secondary education at Vervolgd School, Larantuka, from 1940 to 1942.
Young Anton attended Yohanes Berkhman's minor seminary in Todabelu-Mataloko, Ngada Regency, from 1942–1950, before studying at St. Paul’s Major Seminary Ledalero, Maumere, Flores, from 1950 to 1958.
It was on August 17, 1958, that Bishop Gabriel Manek, SVD, the Bishop of Larantuka at the time, consecrated him as a priest of the Society of the Word of God (SVD).
After completing pastoral years and additional study in cultural anthropology and the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI), he assumed the position of Regional SVD on April 12, 1972, and held it for three consecutive mandates.
On April 2, 1982, Bishop Ratu was consecrated as the Auxiliary Bishop of Atambua and bestowed upon him the title of Titular Bishop of Zaba. His ordination motto was "Maranatha" (1 Corinthians 16:22).
The loss of the emeritus bishop comes after the observance of his 95th birthday on January 2, 2024, in which Bishop Dominikus Saku presided over a Mass celebration at Santa Maria Bitauni Chapel, Kefamenanu.
Undergoing episcopal ordination for 41 years, Bishop Ratu is the eldest bishop in Indonesia and the oldest bishop Emeritus among the thirteen bishops Emeritus in his country, according to the records.
At his birthday ceremony on January 2, Bishop Dominukus Saku of Atambua was ecstatic to learn that Anton Pain Ratu had become the oldest bishop in Indonesia's history.
"We are honored to have Mgr. Anton is our oldest Bishop Emeritus among the thirteen Emeritus Bishops in Indonesia," said Bishop Dominikus Saku.
Father Vinsentiun Wun, SVD, Vicar General of the Atambua Diocese, stated in a written statement that Bishop Dominikus Saku of Atambua will preside over the requiem Mass for Bishop Ratu on January 8 at Atambua Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.
The same circular letter said that Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC of Bandung and Chairman of the Indonesian Catholic Bishops' Conference (KWI), will officiate the funeral mass on Tuesday, January 9, 2024.
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