Faithfully Serving the Elderly

The 70-year-old, Sister Veronica Indrawati, has dedicated her life to caring for deaf children, the widows of political victims and elderly who have been neglected by their families in Wonosobo, Semarang, Yogyakarta and Banyumas.

KOMPAS/MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Sister Veronica Indrawati, PMY

Sister Veronica Indrawati’s life of service as a nun at the Congregation of St. Mary and Joseph brought her to the powerless, the poor and the marginalized. The 70-year-old has dedicated her life to caring for deaf children, the widows of political victims and elderly who have been neglected by their families in Wonosobo, Semarang, Yogyakarta and Banyumas.

Although she is frail and walks with the help of a cane, Sister Indrawati – or Sister In – was enthusiastic about visiting the residents of the Panti Wreda Catur Nugraha elderly care home in Kaliori, Banyumas, Central Java.

“Did you get your meal? That’s great, you have finished it,” Sister In told a 79-year-old resident, Soei Yang, on Tuesday (4/9/2018).

The elderly care home, which was founded by donors, the Purwokerto diocese and priests at the Immaculate Mary (OMI) and the Congregation of St. Mary and Joseph (PMY), now serves 38 residents who are called “grandfather” or “grandmother”. Since it opened in 2006 under the leadership of Sister In, the home has cared for 263 people.

Most of its residents are poor and were taken to the home by their children or other relatives. “We need to give them love, because they are neglected by their families. The elderly are seen as useless, an inconvenience,” said Sister In, whose given name is Ong Sing Ien.

Sister In said that even though the home had a procedure for registering new residents, some families wanted to rush through the process for a variety of reasons.

“So, the families wanted to escape from their burden. They say they are exhausted,” said Sister In, who joined the PMY in 1971.

The elderly, Sister In said, may feel abandoned. “That’s why they need attention and are happy to talk about their past,” she said.

The home has witnessed the passing of at least 30 residents since its founding in 2006. As their families did not claim their bodies, they were interred at the Goa Maria Kaliori (Kaliori Cave of Maria) cemetery. These “grandfathers” and “grandmothers” remained neglected by their families until their final days.

The Wreda Catur Nugraha home continues to care for their residents and provide funeral services in the name of love eternal. Once a year, the home’s staff clears weeds from the graves of its “grandfathers” and “grandmothers”.

Donations

Suster In said the living cost of each resident was a minimum Rp 750,000 per month. This covered three daily meals, two daily snacks, toiletries, laundry services and medicines. However, not all families paid the fee regularly or completely.

“Some pay Rp 300,000 or Rp 500,000 per month. There was one relative that paid Rp 1 million for a few months. But then, his number was disconnected,” she said.

Sister In and the other caregivers also provide care by celebrating religious holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, Idul Fitri and Independence Day. Sister In organizes fishing contests for the residents on these special occasions, such as on Aug. 17 this year.

“They fish for prizes like traditional snacks and plastic containers. The \'fishing pond is a table placed upside-down that is draped with a sheet of fabric. They also get new clothes during Idul Fitri,” she said.

Aside from making her daily rounds in greeting the home’s residents, Sister In is also responsible for gathering donations to maintain its activities. In the beginning, Sister In was uncomfortable about collecting donations, but she overcame her reluctance for the sake of the elderly under her care.

Sister In learned from Sister Matineta, who comes from the Netherlands and has many connections, and adopted her methods. “Sister Matineta shows up at every funeral, wedding and any other event [she is invited to]. She builds ties and is attentive. They [donors] are happy, even if her attendance is brief,” said Sister In, who formed many new ties with donors at similar events.

In 1971, Sister In cared for deaf and mute children at the Dena Upakara school for the disabled in Wonosobo, and in 1977-1979, she cared for deaf and mute children at a boarding house in Bintaran, Yogyakarta. In 1979-1993, she provided care for the widows of men who were killed during the G30S abortive coup in Semarang.

“At the Soegijapranata social foundation, women were taught how to sew and make uniforms for the Pangudi Luhur school,” said Sister In, who received the 2015 Srikandi Pemuda Pancasila Award in Banyumas.

Then, in 1993-2004, Sister In cared for the elderly in three homes run by the Soegijapranata social foundation: Panti Jompo Rindang Asih in Semarang, Ungaran and Boja (Kendal). There, Sister In learned from Sister Matineta how to care for the elderly.

“[Sister Matineta] has a good way with the old people. She gives them attention and talks with them. Sometimes she brings them food. Basically, she gives them love,” said Sister In.

Modest family

Suster In was born on March 11, 1948 to a family of modest means in Wonosobo to parents Ong Bing San and Oey Lan Nio. Shed lived with her brother, Yosep Ong Sing Kie (dec.), mother, aunt and uncle, because her father was killed during the Agresi Militer II (Operation Kraai) Dutch military offensive of 1948-1949.

Her family sold eggs and cloves. As a child, Sister In learned not to be dependent on others, and she sewed and made paper envelopes to make money.

She was raised in a Christian home and schooling. After graduating from high school, Sister In converted to Catholicism and joined the PMY congregation in Wonosobo as a nun. “When I was a child, I was impressed by the Dutch nuns and priests who wore robes and rode bicycles,” said Sister In.

At the PMY convent, Sister In followed the principle of “charity in all things”, or in omnibus charitas in Latin. It is this spirit that guides her in caring for the elderly. Although she is no longer young herself, Sister In is faithful in caring for the elderly to give them the warmth and love their families have denied them.

KOMPAS/MEGANDIKA WICAKSONO

Sister Veronica Indrawati, PMY (left).

Born: Wonosobo, March 11, 1948

Father: Ong Bing San

(deceased at age 38)

Mother: Oey Lan Nio (deceased, 84)

Education: PMY convent (joined 1971); Senior high school SMA Kenanga Wonosobo; SMP Kristen Wonosobo

junior high school; SD Kristen Wonosobo

elementary school

Occupation: Head of the Panti Wreda Catur Nugraha elderly care home, Kaliori, Banyumas (2006-present)