Papuans in Indonesia seek to honor missionary priest
Bishops urged to mark the Church's arrival in the region 127 years ago by declaring Catholic Mission Day
Jesuit Father Cornelis Le Cocq d'Armanville was the first missionary priest in Papua. (Photo: mshkatolikpapua)
The Catholic Church in Papua celebrates 127 years this year, prompting a call for May 22 to be declared Catholic Mission Day to mark the anniversary of the arrival of the first missionary in the Indonesian region.
Father Cornelis Le Cocq d’Armanville, a Dutch Jesuit missionary priest, arrived in Indonesia’s easternmost region on May 22, 1894, to introduce Catholicism to local people.