Tenth Year 9 students (15 years old) from the Gymnasium and Realschule in Bonn, accompanied by Mr. Völzgen and Mr. Werner, travelled from 28 May to 6 June to the Indonesian island of Sumba, 16,000 km away, to witness and acknowledge the impact of our Asrama fundraising initiatives.
Why is Christianity the dominant religion on Sumba? The answer lies largely with the Redemptorists. In 1957, the first 37 Redemptorist missionaries arrived after a five-week voyage from Rotterdam. Since then, they have shaped the island’s religious life so profoundly that Christianity has become Sumba’s largest faith. One student reflected: “I was deeply moved by how important religion is in people’s lives on Sumba—far more than for most people in Germany.”
Before our journey, we believed the Redemptorists operated just one boarding school. In fact, Collegium Josephinum Bonn (CoJoBo) supports 13 primary schools, one middle school, one high school, a kindergarten, and two boarding homes, alongside several institutions for priestly formation. This revealed the scale and vitality of the Catholic community we help support through our donations.
We visited the Redemptorist schools in Andaluri, Waingapu, and the remote Ngarukanoru Primary School, located deep in the forest without electricity or running water. Some children walk up to four hours each way to attend school, often leaving before sunrise. Their dedication was truly remarkable.
At every visit, we received an exceptionally warm welcome, complete with traditional dances, gifts of Sumbanese scarves, the customary “Sumba kiss” of touching noses, and heartfelt speeches thanking us both for visiting and for helping sustain and expand their schools.
Our Asrama fundraising efforts are clearly making a real difference. Pater Jack, the provincial superior on Sumba, coordinates much of this work. One student commented: “I was impressed by Father Jack’s passion and commitment, and by how much he cares for the wellbeing of the people, especially the children.” Another added: “This trip made me realise how fortunate we are in Germany and how small many of our everyday problems are compared with the challenges these children face.” A third noted that the experience showed him that the money sent to Sumba is used wisely and that it is important to focus on solutions rather than problems.
We returned home with vivid memories and renewed conviction in this outstanding project. Our partnership benefits not only Sumba but also our community in Bonn through regular visits and the pastoral work of Redemptorist priests among us. Those who were once missionaries to Sumba have, in many ways, become missionaries to us.
A final student reflection captures the spirit of the journey: “I was highly impressed by Sumba’s largely untouched natural beauty. I also found it fascinating how strongly people preserve and live by their traditions. Above all, it was wonderful to gain such a deep insight into our partner schools on the other side of the world, which until now we had only heard about.”
Mr. Matthias Werner, Mr Georg Völzgen
