Indonesia: New bishop for diocese of Ambonia ordained

Archbishop Piero Pioppo, the Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia, consecrated Seno Inno Ngutra as the new bishop of Ambonia diocese on April 23 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Ambon, Maluku Province.
 
Pioppo was the main ordaining prelate, accompanied by Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi MSC of Merauke and Bishop Benedictus Estephanus Rolly Untu MSC of Manado. 
 
“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch (Lk.5:4) is the episcopal theme chosen by Ngutra. An order whose purpose is to go and catch fish,” said Bishop Mandagi in his homily.
 
“As Jesus told Peter, the same thing Jesus tells the newly ordained bishop to catch people who may still be trapped in the lake of evil. Gathering them in fellowship, to bring them back to the church that is colored by brotherhood, love, sacrifice, and care for each other,” he continued.
 
Bishop Mandagi also assures the new bishop that he has strong nets to gather them namely, qualified priests, brothers, and nuns who are close to the Word of God, Eucharist, prayer, and close to the people. It is not forgotten that there are so many Catholics who are also ready to become human nets.
 
He also reminded Bishop Ngutra not to rely solely on his greatness but to rely on God's commands. 
 
Bishop Mandagi reminded priests in Ambonia diocese to obey the new bishop. Catholics are also invited to be proud because they have a new bishop.
 
On the occasion of the episcopal ordination, Bishop Ngutra thanked all those who were present at the celebration, especially Bishop Mandagi, who was his role model.
 
"Thank you to Bishop Mandagi for entrusting me with the tasks that I carried out during my time as general secretary of the Ambonia diocese," he explained.
 
“I did not produce bishops, but I prepared a leader,” said bishop Ngutra recalling Bishop Mandagi's words.
 
Bishop Ngutra also learned how a leader must have three things, namely humility to apologize, faithfully celebrating the Mass and prayer, and self-discipline and time.
 
Present at the consecration celebration were Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo, Indonesian Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the Governor of Maluku Province, bishops, priests, brothers, nuns, and Bishop Ngutra's virtual friends, including Albertus Gregory Tan, and parishioners of the diocese of Ambonia.
 
Pope Francis appointed the Ngutra as Bishop of Amboina (known as the diocese of a thousand islands) on December 8, 2021. 
 
He succeeded Bishop Mandagi who since November 11, 2020, has been appointed Archbishop of Merauke (Papua Indonesia). Bishop Ngutra is the first Bishop of Ambonia from the Diocesan Priest of Ambonia.
 
Previously Bishop Ngutra was the secretary of the Ambonia Diocese and was also the Judicial Vicar of the Ambonia Diocese. 
 
Born on November 7, 1970, Ngutra graduated from St. Judas Thadeus Langgur, Maluku. Then he completed his philosophical and theological education at the Pineleng Seminary College of Philosophy, North Sulawesi. He was ordained a priest on October 6, 2001, by Bishop Mandagi.
 
He continued his education in Church Law at St. Thomas University (UST), Manila, Philippines. Bishop Ngutra is a lecturer at the St. Catholic Religious Education College (STPAK) John the Evangelist of Ambon.
 
Ambonia was established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Dutch New Guinea from the Apostolic Vicariate of Batavia on December 22, 1902. It was promoted as the Apostolic Vicariate of Dutch New Guinea on August 29, 1920. In 1949, it was renamed Apostolic Vicariate of Amboina and on January 3, 1961, it was promoted to Diocese of Amboina.
 
As of 2020, it pastorally served 115,650 Catholics (3.8% of 3,058,640 total) on 77,990 km² in 54 parishes with 99 priests (77 diocesan, 19 religious), 220 lay religious (27 brothers, 193 sisters).