Every three years, the Society of St Vincent de Paul in Indonesia brings together hundreds of Vincentians from across the vast archipelago for its National Assembly. This year, the National Council of Indonesia invited the National Council of Australia to send representatives to the 16th Assembly. In early July, Catherine Smith, Australia’s National Twinning Coordinator and a Victorian Member, and Jonathan Fane, a Queensland Member, travelled to Indonesia to attend on Australia’s behalf.

Every Conference in Indonesia was invited to send a representative. Over three days, interactive sessions broke open the theme ‘Assessing Society’s Wounds, Spreading Comfort’ through team-building activities, formation talks, group work and Mass. A key moment was the re-election and commissioning of Indonesia’s National Council President, Linda Rahayu.

For the two Australians, the Assembly offered a far deeper understanding of how the Society operates in Indonesia, the challenges its Conferences face, and how the Overseas Partnerships Program can continue to provide meaningful engagement and support. They presented on the Society in Australia and Australia’s involvement in Twinning, and were asked to speak specifically about the importance of communication between twinned Conferences – a message made all the more powerful because Jonathan, a native Indonesian speaker, could converse with Members in their own language.

The pair also joined a question and answer panel with Noel Low, the Society’s International Territorial Vice President for the Asia 2 Region. Although invited to present, they found the exchange went both ways: Indonesian Members were keenly interested in how Australian Conferences attract and include younger Members.

Strong communication is integral to Twinning, and the chance to build relationships face to face, particularly between National Twinning Coordinators, was a highlight that is already bearing fruit for Catherine. She and Jonathan also visited a local orphanage and the seminary of the Congregation of the Mission, an order founded by Saint Vincent de Paul with a strong presence in East Java, which has its own Conference supporting nearby schools and students. Organised by the Spiritual Director for the National Council of Indonesia, these visits offered insight into the works and experience of local Members and their Companions. Catherine said that getting to know Indonesian Members left her with a strong sense of solidarity with them and those they assist.

Reflecting on the trip, Catherine and Jonathan described it as “an incredible personal experience and opportunity that we hope will benefit the work we do as Vincentians – especially in promoting the incredible work of Twinning and the wider Overseas Partnerships Program”. They thanked the National Council of Australia for the opportunity, and hope the visit will further strengthen the long-standing relationship between the Society in Australia and Indonesia.