St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church: Indonesian Community

Indonesian Community

A Brief History

The beginnings of the Indonesian Community of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (IC-ADLA) began with a group called “Indonesian Catholic Families of America” (KKIA) who were brought together not only by their common culture but also by their love of the Eucharist especially celebrated in Indonesian. John & Mien Hartanto, Dr.Robert & Marietta Tango, Justine and Joseph Goei, Tom & Olly Tan, Edwina and Ronnie Oei, Albert & Cecilia Massie, Sr. Xaviera Pl., The Poppy & Brian, were some of the original founders.

The group’s first mass in Indonesian was celebrated on January 1, 1984 by Fr. Wim Van Gaspel who was studying in Spokane, Washington at that time. This was followed by another Eucharistic Celebration on January 27, 1984 at Incarnation Church by Fr. John Dohne, OSC who was vacationing in the area with his family. On February 11, 1984 at another celebration Romo Dohne invited other Indonesians from Orange County. There was a huge turnout of Indonesian Catholics which prompted the formation of a committee headed by John Hartanto on February 19, 1984. On April 22, 1984 the first Easter Celebration was celebrated by the community for the first time in Fullerton.

The mission of KKIA is to foster Catholic faith among its members and to strengthen the cultural bonds with one another as well as to support one another in America.

In 1991 KKIA became "non-profit organization" and was then called KKIA, INC. As the community continued to grow, there was an urgent need to become part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. On September 17, 2001 KKIA Inc. became the Indonesian Community of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (IC-ADLA). Thanks to the assistance of Sr. Irma Isip, Director of Asian Pacific Ministry Archdiocese of Los Angeles to our first chaplain Father Linus Tiala. Saint Stephen became the official home of the community.

The following are the past chaplains of IC-ADLA:

Fr. Linus Tiala (2001)
Fr. Yosef Dowa
Fr. Stephanus Heruyanto (October 2006-l July 2010)
Fr. Gregory Tulus Sudarto (2010-July 2013)
Fr. Budi Wardhana (2013-2016)
Fr. Kanisius Ali (2016-Present)

Romo Kansius Ali

More facts about IC-ADLA

Contact: Romo Kanisius Ali
(626)573-0427 Email:kanis.ali12345@gmail.com
President: Soeriani Kheng
Vice-President 1: Justina Jie, Vice-President 2: Ignatius Julianto, Vice-President 3:Maria Khoe
Indonesian Mass at St. Stephen Martyr Church is celebrated every Sunday at 11AM

Source: Book of Memories IC-ADLA HUT TO 5, updated 21 September 2013 and VCR Star, August 5, 2009