A renowned scholar of theology and a dedicated champion of interfaith dialogue, Fr. Albertus Bagus Laksana, SJ, is set to usher in a new era of leadership for the Society of Jesus in Indonesia.
By Veritas Indonesia Reporter.
YOGYAKARTA-Veritas Indonesia. On March 25, 2026, Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, appointed Fr. Albertus Bagus Laksana, SJ, as the new Provincial of the Indonesian Jesuit Province. He will officially assume his new responsibilities in July 2026, succeeding Fr. Benedictus Hari Juliawan, SJ, who has served in the leadership position for nearly six years.
Currently serving as the Rector of Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta, Central Java, Fr. Laksana brings a wealth of academic and theological expertise to his new role. He has published extensively in both English and Indonesian, with his scholarly focus encompassing comparative Christian and Islamic theology, Asian theology, the history of missions, religious pluralism, and the complex intersection of religion and culture. Furthermore, he serves as a board member of the Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU), a prominent regional network of Catholic higher education institutions.
Fr. Laksana built his robust academic foundation starting with an undergraduate degree in social and cultural philosophy from the Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta. He later furthered his studies in the United States, obtaining a master’s degree in theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Massachusetts. In 2011, he earned his Ph.D. in theology from Boston College. Prior to joining the Faculty of Theology at Sanata Dharma University in 2012, he held teaching positions at both Loyola Marymount University and Boston College.
Deeply rooted in the humanities and social sciences, Fr. Laksana is a strong advocate for public theology and nation building. He consistently emphasizes the importance of bridging faith with pressing social issues and encourages active community engagement. In a diverse nation like Indonesia, which frequently grapples with complex societal challenges such as religious extremism and fundamentalism, he pays special attention to promoting a dialogical and contextual Catholic theology. Through his active engagement with various faith communities, Fr. Laksana continues to foster mutual understanding and lasting harmony among religious groups.
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