f Share to Facebook ✉ Share via Email

Serving Beyond Borders: The Missionary Witness of Sr. Conchita Cruz, SSpS and its Impact on the Church in Flores, Indonesia

Submitted: March 11, 2026 | Published: June 30, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.63130/hijcre.v3i1.238

Authors

Keywords:

Church, Flores, Missionary Witness, Serving beyond borders, Sr. Conchita Cruz

Abstract

This paper explores the missionary life and enduring impact of Sr. Conchita Cruz, SSpS, whose forty-six years of service in Flores, Indonesia, exemplify a profound commitment to mission “beyond borders.” Using a qualitative, historical-narrative methodology, the study examines her life within the wider socio-cultural, historical, and religious landscape of Flores, a region shaped by deep Catholic roots, indigenous traditions, and increasing socio-economic transformation. The paper situates her ministry within the missiological framework of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), highlighting her vocational journey from the Philippines to Indonesia, her professional contribution as a medical doctor, and her significant act of adopting Indonesian citizenship. Drawing on contemporary mission theology—particularly the attitudes of spirituality of presence, kenotic spirituality, reconciliation, and holistic spirituality—the study analyzes how Sr. Conchita embodied a cross-cultural and transformative missionary identity. Her witness reveals a mission rooted in friendship, humility, mutual learning, and intercultural solidarity. The findings show that her service transcended geographical, cultural, linguistic, and religious boundaries, demonstrating an incarnational and relational approach to mission that enriched both herself and the communities she served.

About the Author/s

Sr. Herlina Hadia, SSpS

Sr. Herlina Hadia, SSpS, is a member of the Mission Congregation Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS). She holds a Master of Arts and Licentiate in Missiology from the University of Santo Tomas, Philippines. Her academic interests include inculturation, women’s roles in mission, and interreligious dialogue in Indonesian context. She has published in several academic journals on these themes. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in Theology, focusing on Interreligious Dialogue, at the University of Divinity–Yarra Theological Union in Melbourne, Australia. Her research aims to explore dialogical engagement between Christian and Muslim communities in Indonesia.

References

[1] Amaladoss, M. (1990). Making all things new: Dialogue, pluralism, and evangelization in Asia. Orbis Books.

[2] Bellagamba, A. (1992). Mission and ministry in the global church. Orbis Books.

[3] Benedict XVI. (2005). Deus caritas est: Encyclical letter on Christian love. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

[4] Bevans, S. B. (2002). Models of contextual theology. Orbis Books.

[5] Bevans, S. B., & Schroeder, R. P. (2004). Constants in context: A theology of mission for today. Orbis Books.

[6] Bosch, D. J. (1991). Transforming mission: Paradigm shifts in theology of mission. Orbis Books. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/009182969101900203

[7] Brueggemann, W. (1998). A commentary on Jeremiah: Exile and homecoming. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

[8] Clements, R. E. (1973). Interpretation: A Bible commentary for teaching and preaching Jeremiah. John Knox Press.

[9] Constitution and Directorium of the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS). (n.d.).

[10] Dupuis, J. (2002). Christianity and the religions: From confrontation to dialogue. Orbis Books.

[11] Fernandez, I. Y. (2007). Inventarisasi bahasa-bahasa daerah di Propinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur. Humaniora, 19(3). https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/11792-ID-inventarisasi-bahasa-bahasa-daerah-di-propinsi-nusa-tenggara-timur.pdf

[12] Francis. (2013). Evangelii gaudium: Apostolic exhortation on the proclamation of the gospel in today’s world. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

[13] Hiebert, P. G. (1985). Anthropological insights for missionaries. Baker Academic.

[14] Indonesian Immigration. (n.d.). Tata cara mendapat dan melepas kewarganegaraan Indonesia. https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/keimigrasian/637/tata-cara-mendapat-dan-melepas-kewarganegaraan-indonesia

[15] John Paul II. (1990, December 7). Redemptoris missio: Decree on the permanent validity of the missionary mandate. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

[16] John Paul II. (1999). Ecclesia in Asia: Post-synodal apostolic exhortation. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

[17] Majalah Tempo. (2007). Flores dan keindahannya. https://travel.tempo.co/read/720937/wisata-pantai-sejarah-flores-memeluk-katolik/full&view=ok

[18] Merton, T. (1971). Contemplation in a world of action. Doubleday.

[19] Nouwen, H. J. M. (1981). The way of the heart: The spirituality of the desert fathers and mothers. Harper & Row.

[20] Panikkar, R. (1999). The intrareligious dialogue. Orbis Books.

[21] Phan, P. C. (2003). In our tongues: Perspectives from Asia on mission and inculturation. Orbis Books.

[22] Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. (1984). Dialogue and mission: Reflections and orientations on interreligious dialogue and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

[23] Rahner, K. (1978). Foundations of Christian faith. Crossroad.

[24] Sanneh, L. (1989). Translating the message: The missionary impact on culture. Orbis Books.

[25] Schreiter, R., & Jørgensen, K. (2013). Mission as ministry of reconciliation (Edinburgh Centenary Series 16). Regnum Books International. https://scholar.csl.edu/edinburghcentenary/16

[26] Second Vatican Council. (1965). Ad gentes: Decree on the missionary activity of the Church. Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

[27] Steenbrink, K. (1993). Dutch colonialism and Indonesian Islam: Contacts and conflicts 1596–1950. Rodopi.

[28] Secretariat of SSpS Flores East Province. (n.d.). E-File.

[29] Toda, D. N. (2018). Manggarai mencari pencerahan: Historiografi. Nusa Indah.

[30] Widyawati, F. (2018). Catholics in Manggarai, Flores, Eastern Indonesia (Globethics.net Theses Series 29). Globethics.net. https://doi.org/10.58863/20.500.12424/169506 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58863/20.500.12424/169506

PlumX Metrics

PlumX Metrics

Citations

Cited by: —
View on Crossref

Published

06/30/2026

How to Cite

Hadia, H. (2026). Serving Beyond Borders: The Missionary Witness of Sr. Conchita Cruz, SSpS and its Impact on the Church in Flores, Indonesia. Hitik: International Journal of Catechists and Religious Educators, 3(1), 106-119. https://doi.org/10.63130/hijcre.v3i1.238