The Directorate General of Christian Guidance, together with LPPN and LPPD throughout Indonesia, held a national meeting in Manokwari to discuss the preparation of the National Pesparawi.

West Papua - On Monday, October 30, 2023, the Minister of Religious Affairs, represented by the Director General of Christian Guidance Jeane Marie Tulung, officially opened the National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Directorate General of Christian Guidance of the Ministry of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia with the National Pesparawi Development Agency (LPPN) and regional Pesparawi Development Agency (LPPD) throughout Indonesia in 2023.

One of the topics of discussion during this three-day activity was the preparation for the 2025 ecclesiastical choir party (Pesparawi) in Manokwari.

In his speech, the Director General of Christian Guidance, as chairman of LPPN, stated that Pesparawi is a very effective national-scale activity to improve religious life. It is part of the mental, spiritual, moral, and ethical coaching of Christians.

The Pesparawi National Conference held last year in Jogja decided that West Papua province would host the XIV national Pesparawi in 2025. "In 2023, this is the 40th National Pesparawi year with 13 events since 1983," he said.

The director general is grateful for the efforts of the West Papua provincial government and local LPPD to welcome the XIV Pesparawi in Manokwari in 2025.

"I hope the participants can follow the Rakernas well and contribute to the preparation of the upcoming National Peswparawi,” he said.

Before that, the Regent of Manokwari Regency, Drg. Henri Sembiring, Secretary of Manokwari Regency, welcomed the participants of the Rakernas, which will be held in Manokwari from October 30 to November 1, 2023.

"Manokwari for all, all for Manokwari," he said with enthusiasm. "May the presence of the Father and Mother bring blessings and change to the land of Papa.”

Meanwhile, Otto Parorongan, Assistant III for General Administration of West Papua Provincial Secretariat representing the Acting Governor of West Papua, stated that Rakernas is very important because it will discuss how to prepare national Pesparawi in West Papua.

It is expected that this event will be an important consideration for the future progress and development of LPPN and LPPD. He stated that the West Papua provincial government was very grateful for the opportunity to host the Rakernas and also for the implementation of Pesparawi in 2025.

According to him, because West Papua was appointed as the host of the National Pesparawi in 2025, the West Papua provincial government will work hard to provide the best facilities for the participants. "West Papua, as a city of civilization, should give Pesparawi a different color in 2025. So that this Rakernas can provide important and useful decisions for the development of Pesparawi in the future."

In addition to the West Papua provincial government and its Forkopimda, director of Christian Affairs Proverbs Yowei, Secretary of the Directorate General of Christian Guidance Johni Tilaar, Christian religious leaders of West Papua, leaders and administrators of LPPN, leaders and administrators of LPPD provinces throughout Indonesia, Head of Christian Guidance and Pemimas throughout Indonesia, and committees from the Directorate General of Christian Guidance and the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of West Papua were all present at the event.