The Flame at The Tip of The Candle

Imagine… a freezing night in the Netherlands back in the year 1822. As the wheel of time turned, the
world felt terribly dark for the poor and the sick. Yet, in the midst of that darkness, a Jesuit priest emerged with a burning flame of compassion in his heart. His name was Father Mathias Wolff, S.J. He could not stand idly by while witnessing the suffering around him. Driven by steadfast faith, Father Mathias Wolff founded a religious congregation known today as the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus Mary Joseph (SJMJ). Father Mathias once gave a powerful charge: “Throw the fire!” a call to ignite God’s love wherever one sets foot. And from a single small candle flame in the Netherlands, a long history of compassionate service truly began.

However, the flame of compassion could never stay hidden behind the walls of a single motherhouse. That flame longed to cross the vast oceans! In July 1929, six brave SJMJ sisters boarded a ship. They left behind their homeland, their comfort, and their families… journeying toward a distant, unfamiliar land in the Far East: Manado, Indonesia. Can you imagine how that felt? A language they did not speak, an unfamiliar tropical climate, and a severe lack of resources. Yet, in the hearts of these sisters, there was no room for fear. There was only a burning desire to serve the poor, care for the sick, and educate children who had never known a classroom. With gentle hands, the sisters began healing wounds, curing diseases, and teaching with warm smiles. From Manado, that flame of love spread across Makassar, Jakarta, and eventually throughout the entire Indonesian archipelago, reaching even Timor-Leste and Ghana!

Today, if we step into the schools, hospitals, orphanages, and nursing homes managed by the SJMJ
Congregation… what do we find? We do not merely see physical structures. We witness the living presence of God. We see the sisters serving with the spirit of “From I to We” – moving from the self to the collective. Shifting from self-interest to walking together as prophets of hope. The generalate, which remained in the Netherlands for nearly two centuries, took deep root in Indonesia and relocated to Yogyakarta in 2018. This stands as living proof that a mission of compassion knows no boundaries of nation, race, or culture. Through education, healthcare, and social-pastoral…ministries, the SJMJ sisters continue to reach out to the forgotten, bringing renewed hope to those who are on the verge of giving up.

My dear Sisters and teachers…
The story of the SJMJ Sisters is not just a tale of the past. It is the story of a flame that continues to burn brightly today. Father Mathias Wolff and the pioneer sisters lit that fire long ago. Now, the question remains: What about us? We do not need to cross oceans to become bringers of hope. We can start with small acts: comforting the lonely, healing the broken, and working together to build true unity. Let us stand as prophets of hope wherever we are. Let us pass on this legacy of love and mercy! For as the spiritual wisdom of SJMJ reminds us: “Where there is compassion, there God is present.”