A SERIES OF NATIONAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS AND THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF CHRISTIAN GUIDANCE OF THE MINISTRY OF RELIGION HELD A SEMINAR, SOCIALISATION, AND PRAYER TOGETHER

SURABAYA, December 19, 2023 (DBK) Surabaya is preparing to welcome the national Christmas celebration on December 27, 2023, with a series of events that combine tradition and interactive discussions. This activity, which was initiated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs through the Directorate General of Christian Religious Guidance, carries the theme "Christian Dialogue in Realising the Christmas Theme in 2023" and will be carried out in a hybrid manner in Surabaya. This event will feature socialisation on the implementation of National Christmas, prayer sessions, and worship together to welcome National Christmas. This activity was attended by important figures such as Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi (online), Jeane Marie Tulung, Director General of Christian Community Guidance, and other relevant directors. The event was also attended by 250 offline participants from Surabaya and surrounding areas and 300 online participants from all over Indonesia. This dialogue was guided by the Deputy Secretary General of the communion of churches in Indonesia, Reverend Krise Gosal, with the main speakers being the chairman of the PGI, Reverend Gomar Gultom, and the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Surabaya, Father Yosef Eko Budi Susilo. Pastor Gomar stressed the importance of peace and harmony, given the ongoing conflicts both at home and abroad. This national Christmas celebration is expected to be a momentum to reflect on the peace that all of humanity wants, as stated by Pastor Gomar and Father Eko. They talk about the importance of cooperation and unity to achieve this goal.

This activity will also be attended by President Joko Widodo and other high-ranking officials on December 27 at Graha Bethany Surabaya, with an estimated number of participants of about 22 thousand people. Bonifasius Wahyu Pudjianto, director of information empowerment at the Ministry of Communication and Information, conveyed information related to registration and logistics arrangements for activities. This dialogue and socialisation ended with worship, prayers, and praise to welcome the 2023 National Christmas. The Minister of Communication and Information, Budi Arie Setiadi, in his online speech, appreciated this activity as an important part of religious moderation in Indonesia. This celebration is expected to strengthen harmony and peace in the midst of Indonesia's diversity, in line with the national Christmas theme taken from the Gospel of Luke 2:14.