Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono

Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono was born as Oei Tik Hauw, the second child of three brothers. His father was Stephanus Oei Kok Tjia (Wisaksono) and his mother Ursula Mady Kwa Siok.

Wisaksono received his early education at Saint Michael's SDK Surabaya, then at SMPK Angelus Custos. He attended Garum Seminary, then followed his theological studies at Saint Paul Major Seminary, Faculty of Theology Wedabhakti, Yogyakarta.

Wisaksono was ordained a priest on 21 January 1982 at the age of 28 years, by Mgr. Klooster CM in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Surabaya. He first served in the Parish of St. Joseph, Kediri, East Java.

On 3 April 2007, at the Mass acceptance confirmation at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Surabaya, the Apostolic Nuncio for Indonesia and East Timor, Mgr. Leopoldo Girelli, announced the appointment of Mgr. Vincent Sutikno Wisaksono as Bishop of Surabaya, following the declaration by Pope Benedict XVI. Acting as President is Archbishop of Jakarta, Bishop Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja, who is assisted by the Archbishop of Semarang, Bishop Ignatius Suharyo and the Bishop of Malang, Bishop Herman Joseph Sahadat Pandoyoputro.

As bishop, he forbade the holding of Mass in the framework of the special Chinese New Year celebration in the Diocese of Surabaya, despite having Chinese descent.

Vincentius Sutikno Wisaksono died on 10 August 2023, at St Vincent de Paul Hospital.[4] His death was attributed to prostate cancer. The bishop also had a history of illnesses, which are: diabetes, chronic liver and chronic stomach.[5] He was 69 at the time of his death.

Immediately after he died, the Diocese of Surabaya was without a bishop and enters the sede vacante period. Within this period, the vicar general and episcopal vicars cease to exercise their powers[6]

The requiem mass was held on 11 August 2023 at the Surabaya Cathedral with the main celebrant being the Bishop of Bandung concurrent as President of the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia, Antonius Subianto Bunjamin. Also in the mass as concelebrant was the Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia, Piero Pioppo; Archbishop of Samarinda, Yustinus Harjosusanto; Archbishop of Kupang, Peter Turang; Archbishop of Medan, Kornelius Sipayung; Archbishop Emeritus of Palembang, Aloysius Sudarso; Bishop Emeritus of Banjarmasin, Petrus Boddeng Timang; Bishop of Pangkal-Pinang, Adrianus Sunarko; Bishop of Bogor, Paskalis Bruno Syukur; Bishop of Purwokerto, Christophorus Tri Harsono; as well as envoy from the Diocese of Tanjungkarang, Diocese of Padang and others.[7]

The Apostolic Nuncio to Indonesia, Piero Pioppo addressed the masses with an Apostolic Letter from Pope Francis to which they felt grave sadness to hear the passing of Mgr. Wicaksono and asked the them to lead by his teachings.

Under the authority of Piero Pioppo as Apostolic Nuncio, the administrative function of the Diocese of Surabaya was to be led by a Diocesan administrator, which will be chosen by the College of Consultors on 14 August 2023. The diocesan administrator shall remain in charge until a new bishop takes possession of the see or until he presents his resignation to the college of consultors.[8]

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