Understanding the Meaning of Suffering Among Catholic Students in Bogor, Indonesia

Theresia Maria Margi Jatining Kasih; Fu Lan Yap

doi:10.24071/jaot.v8i2.14096

Understanding the Meaning of Suffering Among Catholic Students in Bogor, Indonesia

Theresia Maria Margi Jatining Kasih^(1*), Fu Lan Yap⁽²⁾,

(1) Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia
(2) Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study examines the understanding of suffering among Catholic high school students at Regina Pacis High School Bogor, Indonesia. Through focus group discussions, the research explores how thirty high school Catholics perceive and respond to suffering, both personally and in relation to the suffering of others and of Christ. The results are viewed in the light of the Church’s teachings, specifically the apostolic letter Salvifici Doloris and various contemporary theological perspectives on suffering. Reflecting on these insights, the research reveals a significant transition in the students’ understanding of suffering: from viewing daily challenges as suffering to recognizing them as transformative experiences; from avoiding suffering to embracing it; from self-centeredness to empathy toward others who suffer; and ultimately leading them to imitate Christ in their own suffering. The findings highlight the potential of young Catholics to deepen their understanding of suffering, aligning it more closely with its meaning as valued in the Catholic faith.

Keywords

young Catholics; Indonesia; suffering; resilience; Salvifici Doloris

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24071/jaot.v8i2.14096