By Martin Dody Kumoro
INDONESIA – A Catholic-led initiative aimed at restoring dignity and compassion for the elderly was launched in Yogyakarta on Jul 26, marking the global celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
The program, called Wredaloka—from the Javanese words wreda (elderly) and loka (place or space)—was initiated by the KarinaKAS Foundation, the humanitarian arm of the Archdiocese of Semarang.
KarinaKAS is the locally based Caritas network operating under the Catholic Church’s social mission in Central Java.
The launch event was held at the Belarasa KarinaKAS Facility and gathered 93 senior participants from 11 parishes across the urban and East Sleman vicariates.
Some elderly attendees arrived unaccompanied by family, a gesture that organizers saw as a testament to their independence and enthusiasm for social engagement.
“Elderly health is not just about the body, but also about the heart—feeling loved and appreciated,” said Father Bernardus Himawan Pr, director of KarinaKAS.
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