Location
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Hiliondrasi, Indonesia
In early 1981, under the leadership of Sr. Elisabeth as Provincial Superior together with the Provincial Council, a simple yet deeply meaningful ministry was born. In a small area called Hiliondrasi, St. Rafael Health Center was officially established on January 8, 1981. Behind this milestone lies a story of struggle, faith, and unwavering love, a story that continues to inspire today.
At that time, no community of sisters lived in Hiliondrasi. Yet the distance did not dampen their spirit of service. Each morning, the sisters from the Bintang Laut Community traveled nearly seven kilometers by motorcycle to reach the health center. They left with hope and returned each afternoon carrying both fatigue and gratitude; grateful that even one more person had found relief from pain and suffering.
The ministry began through the dedication of two pioneering sisters:
Sr. Andrea Chaniago, a nurse who served with gentle hands and a compassionate heart, and Sr. Martha Chandra, who supported the faithful through her pastoral presence. Through their commitment, this modest initiative grew into a visible expression of God’s love in a community longing for care, attention, and accompaniment.
But the journey was not without trials. The health center building, constructed on filled land, began to weaken. Cracks formed in the foundation, walls crumbled, and eventually the ministry had to be suspended for several months. During the 1986 Provincial Chapter, the community faced a difficult question: Should this ministry be closed?
Yet love does not surrender easily. In faith, on November 23, 1986, the congregation resolved to completely renovate St. Rafael Health Center. God touched the hearts of many, including Fr. Johanes Hammerle, OFM Cap, who generously supported the renovation effort. Through collaboration and constant prayer, a new, sturdier building rose, and on February 9, 1987, the health center received its operating license once more. The heartbeat of this ministry of love returned to Hiliondrasi.
As the years passed, the work continued to flourish. On September 1, 1988, after years of commuting, the sisters finally took up permanent residence and officially formed the St. Rafael Community, a home of prayer and a center of compassionate service. From this place, the sisters provided not only health care but also spiritual support: visiting outstations, guiding Sunday school, training choirs, offering health education, and nurturing the faith of young Catholics.
Today, amid the swift currents of modern life, the St. Rafael Community remains steadfast in the same spirit of selfless love. The SCMM Sisters continue to adjust their ministries to current needs through works such as the TKK Jambore, pastoral service, accompanying the Legion of Mary, and guiding Divine Mercy groups. Every simple action reflects God’s living and tangible love among His people.
The long journey of the Medical Center and the St. Rafael Community is more than a historical narrative. It is a testimony of faith—of hope that perseveres despite limitations, of love that never tires of serving, and of hands that labor not for recognition but to reveal the presence of God in the world.
St. Rafael Convent
Dusun 1, Kotak Pos 3
Hiliniondrasi-Teluk Dalam
Kab. Nias Selatan-22865
NORTH SUMATRA