INKULTURASI BUDAYA DI GEREJA KATOLIK PAPUA

Abstract

This article deals with inculturation in the Catholic Church in Papua.
The inculturation is a dialog between catholic faith, particularly that of missionaries and
pastoral workers, and indigenous people. The aim of this dialog is to implant the
catholic faith among these people in such a way that it becomes an integrated element of
their daily lives. At the beginning of the missionaries’ works, they had tried to destroy
some elements of the local culture which was a hinder for implanting the catholic faith.
These elements reminded the indigenous to their old traditions and religions, but at the
same time they were keeping and utilizing them. If we look back at the history of the
Catholic Church in Papua, we will find that there are a lot of contributions which have
been done for conserving local cultures. With regard to inculturation, it is worth noting
that the leaders of the Catholic Church have promoted inculturation in the church,
especially in liturgy and in ministry. But in the later period, this practice disappears.
Nowadays some priests get involved in the inculturation activities in their parishes,
although it should be admitted that the inculturation in the Catholic Church gradually
disappears due to the heterogeneity of parishioners and the impact of globalization.