Indonesian Jesuit Fr Paulus Wiryono Priyotamtama SJ has been appointed as the next Director of the East Asian Pastoral Institute (EAPI) commencing 1 August 2020. Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) President Fr Tony Moreno SJ made the announcement on 8 April following a consultation process with the concurrence of the EAPI Corporation members. Fr Wiryono will take over from Filipino Jesuit Fr Peter Pojol SJ who has served as EAPI Director since 2017.
EAPI is the Asia Pacific hub for theological and pastoral renewal, updating, experimentation, and exploration in the Church. It is an apostolic collaborative work of the Jesuits in Asia Pacific with bishops, members of other religious institutes, diocesan clergy, lay people, and funding agencies in the service of the pastoral mission of the Universal Church.
Fr Wiryono enters into his role as EAPI Director with a long career in education. Born in 1947, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1968 and was ordained in 1980. He obtained a doctorate degree in Agricultural Education from Oklahoma State University in USA. Most recently, he was Chairman of the Association of Catholic Universities Board in Indonesia for six years. He also served as Rector/President of three universities: East Timor University in Dili from 1989 to 1993, Soegijapranata Catholic University in Semarang from 1993 to 1996, and Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta from 2006 to 2014.
In addition, Fr Wiryono served as Provincial of the Indonesian Jesuit Province from 1996 to 2002 and Tertian Instructor in Kandy, Sri Lanka from 2003 to 2005. Currently, he is Tertian Instructor in Girisonta, Indonesia.
Fr Moreno thanked Fr Wiryono “for his readiness and generosity to receive this ministry of leadership” and Fr Pojol “for his competent and engaging leadership at EAPI over the last three years”. Under Fr Pojol’s direction, EAPI was able to strengthen its programmes and directions, upgrade its facilities, and stabilise its financial position.
