SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES AND CAMPUS EVENTS

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
AND
CAMPUS EVENTS
August 15 th , 1986: After the agreement of bishops of Sumatera together with the Indonesian
Capuchin provincial on February 17 th -21 st , 1986 – known as Badan Kerja Sama (BKS)
[Cooperative Committee] – to cooperate in prepearing priest-candidates, finally they founded
Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat-Teologi St. Yohanes Pengarang Injil (STFT St. Yohanes) located in
Pematangsiantar. In the same year, the first Academic Year 1986/1987 started and was inaugurated
with a mass-celebration on August 15 th , 1986. It was then the birthday of STFT St. Yohanes,
Pematangsiantar.
February 1 st , 1987: Official
Inauguration of the Campus of
STFT St. Yohanes,
Pematangsiantar
Attended by thousands of
Catholics, public officials and
many other guests, the official
inauguration of the campus of
STFT St. Yohanes,
Pematangsiantar was held on
February 1 st , 1987. The
celebration lasted for three
days. The first day, January
1 st , 1987 was dedicated for
inaugural celebration attended
by very important persons of
public
officials,
representatives of the Catholic University St. Thomas Medan, representatives of other High
Schools, Catholics around Pematangsiantar, catholic students of Senior High Schools in
Pematangsiantar estimated around 6.000 peoples. The second day, February 1 st , 1987 was the
climax of the celebration. It was dedicated for Catholics from Medan and Pematangsiantar regions.
The Eucharistic celebration was attended by aroun 12.000 persons. The third day, February 2 nd ,
1987 was a celebration for Catholics coming from Toba-Balige, Kabanjahe and Samosir regions.
Around 5.600 persons were present in the occasion.
The second day, as the peak of the celebration, was marked with solemn Eucharist feast
concelebrated by all sumatran bishops and many other priests. Mgr. Canallini, the nuntius of The
Holy See to Indonesia, was also present in the occasion. The theme of the official inauguration was
The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few (Mat 9:37b).
August 31 st , 1987: New History!
The Academic Year 1987/1988 was a special one in the
history of STFT St. Yohanes, Pematangsiantar. For the
first time in its history, four religious sisters enrolled
themselves as regular students into STFT St. Yohanes.
The first four sister-students were, Sr. Bonifasia Sinaga,
KSSY, Sr. Yosefa Lubis, KSSY, Sr. Aloysia Manihuruk,

KYM and Sr. Aniceta, FCJM (two of them are in the picture, namely: Sr. Yosefa Lubis, KSSY and
Sr. Aloysia Manihuruk, KYM). During the opening-speech of the Academic Year 1988/1989, the
rector, R.P. Kosmas Tumanggor, OFM.Cap., underlined that the students might seek to help and to
pay respect to one each other in study with the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Since then, several sisters of various congregations
especially based in the North Sumatera province, enrolled
themselves to study at STFT St. Yohanes, Pematangsiantar.
Their presence created a new milieu and fresh spirit for
other students in pursuing their ideals.
July 2 nd , 1988: First Graduation Ceremony
This was a historical moment in the history of STFT St. Yohanes. After completing their study for
four years and concluding their state exams, the students of the first generation of STFT St.
Yohanes finally celebrated their graduation ceremony. It occasioned at the campus of the Catholic
University St. Thomas Medan, Jl. S. Parman, Medan. Together with other students of various
faculties of the university, they were offially declared as sarjanas which means ‘the educated ones’
by receiving their certificates of graduation.
April 4 th -9 th , 1989: The First State Exam
Due to its status as non-public school (sekolah negeri) but as particular school, the students of
STFT St. Yohanes must do two kinds of exam. The first exam is by the institution and the second
one is by state. The second kind of exam is obligatory for the students in order to hold certificate
authorized by state.
For the first time, the students of STFT St. Yohanes did their state exam comprising twelve (12)
subjects determined by state (The Department of Education). It lasted six days. In the opening day
of the exam, the state officials, Mr. Rustam Effendi, Mr. M. Abduh, S.H., Mr. Drs. Samin
Sembiring together with functionaries of the Catholic University St. Thomas, Medan were present.
May 12 th , 1990: Seminar by Senior Students
The Community of Students (SEMA) STFT St. Yohanes held a seminar on the topic: Celibacy and
Seeking Its Significance Today. The speakers were the senior students of STFT St. Yohanes, known
as Post-S1 students. The participants of the seminar, besides the students of STFT St. Yohanes,
were also the sisters of several congregations domiciling in Pematangsiantar.
Thomas, Medan.
May 9 th , 1992: The First Lustrum
To mark the first five years of STFT St. Yohanes,
the whole civitas academica STFT St. Yohanes
held its first Lustrum. Both lecturers and students
involved in many kinds of scientific and reflective
activities in discerning what STFT St. Yohanes had
been so far and what it should be in the future. One
of the various reflective activities of the first
Lustrum was a seminar on The Participation of
Philosophy and Theology to Build Society. The
speaker was R.P. Dr. Gonzalvus Snijders,
OFM.Cap., the rector of the Catholic University St.

traditional Toba Batak textile) to the Nuntius.
April 13 rd , 1993: Pastoral Visit of Nuntius, Mgr.
Pietro Sambi
As part of his pastoral care, the Nuntius of the Holy
See, Mgr. Pietro Sambi, paid a visit to STFT St.
Yohanes, Pematang-siantar. To welcome his arrival,
the students of STFT St. Yohanes prepared a simple
celebration. The Nuntius was accompanied by the
Bishop of Medan Archdiocese, Mgr. A.G. Pius
Datubara, OFM.Cap. At the end of the meeting, as a
sign of gratitude, the rector of STFT St. Yohanes,
R.P. Leo Sipahutar, MSc., rendered an ulos (a
July 1 st , 1995: Seminar on Believing in Pluralistic Era
As a part of annual program of the Students’ Senate (SEMA), the students of STFT St. Yohanes
organized a seminar by inviting R.P. Prof. Dr. Magnis Suseno, S.J. – nationally wellknown as a
social philosopher in Indonesia – to share his reflection on how Christians should live in pluralistic
era in Indonesia. The subject of the seminar was Believing in Pluralistic Era. It was intended to
broaden students’ horizon about the complexity of expressing faith in a society marked by
multipluralistic facets of life. R.P. Dr. Marinus Telaumbanua acted as moderator during the
seminar.
August 31 st , 2005: Studium Generale
To inaugurate the new Academic Year 2005/2006, STFT St. Yohanes held the annual and
traditional scientific activity in the form of Studium Generale (General Study). The theme of the
Studium Generale was Hermeneutics: Philosophical and Biblical Questions in Textual
Interpretation. The speaker was R.P. Serpulus Tano Simamora, Lic.S.S. and acompanied by
moderator, R.P. Kristinus Mahulae, Lic.S.S. The study was held in aula magna STFT St. Yohanes
and organized by Committee for Academic Year Inauguration (Panitia ORDIK).
August 31 st , 2006: Studium Generale
The subject of the annual Studium Generali this year was The Dinamycs of Text and Context: How
to Do Theology within Text and Context. The subject was delivered by R.P. Joachim Kosmas
Tumanggor, Lic.Th. The moderator who guided the study was R.P. Kornelus Sipayung, Lic.Th. It
was held, as usual, in aula magna STFT St. Yohanes.
September 1 st -3 rd , 2006: Socialisation on the Results of Sinode Agung Gereja Katolik Indonesia
2005 [SAGKI] (The Great Synod of Indonesian Church 2005).
This study was intended to spread out the results of the synod available to public especially to those
who are prepearing themselves into priesthood. It was organised by Community of Students
(SEMA) and facilitated by R.P. Emmanuel Johanis Sembiring, Lic.S.Lit. (lecturer of Liturgy in
STFT St. Yohanes), R.P. Oktavianus Situngkir, OFM.Cap. (member of Catechetical Commision of
Medan Archdiocese), Mr. Wilopo Hutapea (Chief of Catechetical Commision of Medan
Archdiocese) and Mrs. Linda Girsang, S.H. (participant of SAGKI 2005). This study was also
attended by government representations of national and provincial Guiding Body for Catholic
People (BIMAS Katolik) from Jakarta and Medan.
July 9 th -12 th , 2007: Workshop on Standard of Theology
This workshop was attended by all rectors or chairmen of Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat dan Teologi
[STFT] in Indonesia. STFT St. Yohanes, Pematangsiantar sent its participants and speakers, R.D.

Dr. Hieronymus Simorangkir and R.P. Kornelus Sipayung, Lic.S.Th. The points of the workshop
were to talk about Standard Curriculum of Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology. The workshop
was held in Bali and organized The Commision for Major Seminary of the Indonesian Bishops
Conference (Konferensi Wali Gereja Indonesia [KWI]).
April 21 st , 2007: Seminar on Creative Pastoral Care.
The speaker of the seminar was R.D. Dr. Frietz Tambunan, assisted by a student moderator,
Agustinus Eko Harmoko. All the students of STFT St. Yohanes participated in the study.
August 31 st , 2007: Studium Generale
The academic year 2007-2008 was intiated by Studium Generale with a theme: The Church’s Law
within Ecclesiastical dan Civil Life. This study was prepared and presented by R.D. St. Toto
Pujiwahyulistyanto, Lic.I.C. with moderator R.P. Largus Gonzales Nadeak, Lic.S.Th.
November 12 th -15 th , 2007: Workshop on Social
Communication related to Theology of
Communication.
This workshop was
conducted and guided by
Prof. Dr. KRMT John
Tondowi-djojo Tondodiningrat,
an expert on social
commu-nication from
Surabaya, East Java. The
workshop was attended by STFT St. Yohanes’ students of the first to
the third year and other religious sisters interested in social
communication
December 15 th , 2007: Seminar on Christmas Season
For the preparation in attending the Christmas season of
this year, Civitas Academica of STFT St. Yohanes,
Pematangsiantar held a seminar entitled Christmas:
God’s Com-mitment in Human Struggle of Live. Two
speakers were invited to present their reflections. R.P.
Serpulus Tano Simamora, Lic.S.S. shared his reflection
on God’s commitment to save the weakest ones in
salvation history. Rev. Bonar Lumbantobing, MTh., a
protestant pastor, shared his experiences in celebrating
Christmas within his own church. The seminar was directed by a student moderator, C. Paschalis
Esong.
February 1 st -29 th , 2008: Live-in Experience
This is the first time in the history of STFT St. Yohanes. A
group of Protestant pastor-candidates of Gereja Batak Karo
Protestant [GBKP] (The Batak Karo Protestant Church)
with 13 persons (7 female students and 6 male students)
came to SFTF St. Yohanes, Pematangsiantar to experience a
live-in program in our institute. They wanted to share both
academic activities in STFT’s campus and community-life
in our houses of formation together with STFT St. Yohanes’
students. For that purposes they loged in three convents of

our students for the male namely in St. Peter Major Seminary, Bonaventura Friary (Conventual),
Alverna Friary (Caphucin) and for the female in the Novitiate of FCJM sisters.
They wanted to experience the whole dynamics of formation-life of
priest-candidates directly. According to the agreements, these
Protestant pastor-candidates would fully participate in our daily
programs in the formation houses. Beside these community-life
experiences, they also attended two formal classes, i.e., Greek and
Asian (East-ern) Philosophy. For the rest of their time, they did
“shopping classes” which means they could attend other classes
they wished, such as: Missiology, Spirituality, Logic, etc. This
Live-in Experience lasted during the whole month of February.
February 23 rd , 2008: Seminar on Historical Jesus: A Biblical Perspective
In inaugurating the new semester of the second half of the academic
year 2007/2008, the Community of the Students (SEMA) organized
a seminar in form of Studium Generale. R.P. Deshi Ramadhani,
PhD. – a lecturer of STFT Drijarkara, Jakarta – was the speaker of
the study entitled, Historical Jesus: A Biblical Perspective.
Comparative commentar was presented by R.P. Kosmas
Tumanggor, Lic.S.Th. The seminar was guided by moderator, R.P.
Kornelus Sipayung, Lic.S.Th. All the students of STFT St.
Yohanes, several guests of religious communities around
Pematangsiantar and students of HKBP Seminary (Christian Batak
Protestant Church Seminary) attended the seminar.