Aman Rochman, Malang – As a sign of respect for Muslims attending Idul Fitri morning mass prayers, two churches in Malang, East Java, decided to reschedule their morning services on Sunday.
The two churches – GPIB Immanuel and Kayutangan Hati Kudus Yesus – are located near the Malang Grand Mosque, where thousands of Muslims flocked on Sunday morning for Idul Fitri prayers. This year, the Idul Fitri mass prayer coincided with both Catholic and Protestant morning services.
GPIB Immanuel delayed its 8 a.m. Sunday morning service by 30 minutes, while the Kayutangan Hati Kudus Yesus church rescheduled their two morning masses at 6 a.m. and at 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
"The point is that we are glad to help [Muslims] and to maintain the religious tolerance we already enjoy," GBIP priest Richard Agung Sutjahjono said on Sunday.
Kayutangan Hati Kudus Yesus church also allowed the Muslim devotees to use their front yard for the Idul Fitri prayers. "I was curious. I wanted to personally see the religious tolerance in Malang," said Dewi, one of the Muslims praying in the area.
Dewi, who requested to be referred to by her nickname, came from Bandung, West Java, to celebrate Idul Fitri with her parents-in-law. (ipa)