Ruteng – “The young people of St Paul Catholic University in Ruteng have been tirelessly serving the community in the aftermath of the earthquake in Flores. Their voluntary commitment, dedication and spirit of solidarity are truly commendable and instill deep hope in all of us. By rolling up their sleeves and joining together in works of charity, these young people are showing the path towards recovery”: this is what Father Agustinus Mandfred Habur, Rector of St Paul Catholic University in Ruteng told Fides. “The university students,” he said, “are providing free healthcare assistance at Reo parish, in the Diocese of Ruteng, and have set up an emergency center in cooperation with the diocesan Caritas and local authorities.”
“The 7.7 magnitude earthquake,” the rector recounted, “which struck the island of Flores on August 15 has left a deep wound in our community. The Manggarai region, where St Paul Catholic University in Ruteng is located, was also severely affected: buildings were damaged, roads were blocked by landslides, families were forced to leave their homes, and the population is still living in fear of numerous aftershocks. For us, this is not merely a natural disaster: it is a trial affecting individuals, families, students, lecturers and the entire community.”
“In a situation like this,” he continued, “the University could not simply close its doors and wait for teaching activities to resume. We established a University Emergency Coordination Center and temporarily suspended academic activities, allowing lecturers and staff to work from home. At the same time, we invited the university community, beginning with the students, to volunteer and collaborate with the authorities, healthcare institutions, the Church and humanitarian organizations to address the most urgent needs.”
The University, Fr Habur explained, has made its expertise and facilities available to support the affected population. “We are coordinating assistance activities, the collection and distribution of aid, and accompanying communities as they plan the next stages of the emergency. In response to a request from the authorities to use the University’s sports field as the site of a field hospital, we are making this space available to the population in a spirit of full cooperation, while at the same time seeking to ensure safety and the continuity of university life.”
Fr Agustinus Mandfred Habur noted: “In this difficult time, we feel particularly strongly that a Catholic university must be a place where knowledge becomes service and where faith is translated into concrete solidarity. Our response to the earthquake therefore stems from the conviction that no one should have to face this ordeal alone.” He concluded: “As a university community, we want to stand alongside those who are suffering, cooperate with everyone and contribute not only to rebuilding structures, but also to rebuilding hope. We entrust this mission to God’s Providence and to the prayers of the universal Church, confident that, together, we can transform this tragedy into an opportunity for fraternity, resilience and renewed hope.”
The charitable commitment of the Catholic University of Ruteng is part of the wider response of the Catholic Church, carried out primarily through Caritas Indonesia, which has launched an official emergency program to assist the population of Flores. The program is operating across the island through the local Church’s operational centers in the four dioceses that comprise Flores: the Archdiocese of Ende and the dioceses of Maumere, Ruteng and Labuan Bajo.
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