SISTER OF SAINT FRANCISCUS BORO
The Sisters of St. Francis of Boro are part of the Boro Mission complex. Apart from the St. Francis Sisters, the 22,000 m2 mission complex also houses the St. Joseph Boro Hospital, Boro Theresia Lisieux Church (also known as Boro Church), Rectory and church management office, Sancta Maria Boro Orphanage, Sancta Maria Weaving and Pangudi Luhur School ( elementary-junior high school).
The existence of the Boro Mission Complex cannot be separated from the role of a missionary named Father J.B. Prennthaler, S.J. He was a Jesuit priest originally from Austria who worked in the Menoreh hills, especially Kalibawang District, from 1920 until his death, namely April 28, 1946 at the age of 61 and was buried at the Boro Mission Complex. At the initiative of local Catholics, now his grave has been transformed into the Prayer Garden of Our Lady of the Family Protector (BMPK).
Even though it is located in one complex, the construction of each building is not carried out simultaneously, but in stages. The first building built was the Rectory and followed by the Church. The construction of the Rectory and Church was estimated to have started in June-July 1928. The next construction was the St. Joseph's Hospital, which began in 1930. One year later, in 1931, the construction of the St. Francis Sisters followed.
Following the work in the field of education, the OSF St. St. Yusup and St. Yusup Boro General Hospital was established or inaugurated as a real work of church service, for the people in the Boro area and its surroundings, which are in the beautiful Menoreh Hills/Mountains.
On December 15, 1930 the Sisters were present in Boro and with the permission of the Lurah Bradjapawira a hospital for the poor was established in the Boro area, health services were free of charge, health services at that time were not only for the Boro area but extended to Kalibawang , Dekso, Promasan and Nanggulan.
General Condition of St. Francis Boro Sisters Building
The St. Francis Boro Sisters building is located on Jalan Boro – Dekso, next to the St. Yusup Boro Hospital on the east side. To the east, across Jalan Boro – Dekso, there are the FIC church and Brotherhood respectively (Picture 1).
Figure 1. Location of Boro OSF Sisters
Based on the history of its development, the convent building is a hospital which was founded in 1930. At that time, the hospital was led by Sister Aufrida assisted by Sister Florida Van Der Klauw, Sister Bernilda Segerink, Sister Petrone Van Fuik, and Sister Colleta Rubiyah. The blessing of the monastery and the hospital was carried out on January 4, 1931 by Pastor Kalkens S. J. and Pastor Satiman S. J. Meanwhile, the official opening of the hospital was carried out on March 5, 1931 by Pastor Van Baal.
The Franciscan Sisters building is a one-story Indische architectural style building with a plan forming the letter "U" with the ends on the south (rear) side. Most of the buildings have not undergone any changes since they were built in 1930. From the outside it can be seen that although the roof ridges are damaged and covered with zinc, the roof tiles as a whole still retain their original tiles, namely vlam tiles made from clay. Likewise, the walls which have a thickness of one stone look still sturdy and on the outside (exterior) are decorated with andesite stone ornaments at the bottom. The lower interior walls are 1.5 meters high covered with ceramic. In public spaces, maroon tiles measuring 10 x 20 cm are used, installed in a horizontal and anti-broad position (alternating) and in other rooms, gray tiles measuring 20 x 25 cm2 are installed in a vertical position. Almost the entire floor of the convent building still retains its original gray tiles measuring 20 x 20 cm2.
Facade and Entrance
Overall the nunnery building is on the edge of Jalan Dekso – Boro facing north. The entrance is marked by a roof protruding forward in the shape of a pyramid. On the roof, right on the ridge, there is a small turret with a lattice or blinds. The entrance itself is 2 meters wide, consists of 2 doors and is made of wood painted in light brown and yellow. The walls, which are one stone thick, look solid in cream color with black andesite stone decoration at the bottom (Figure 2). In front of the entrance there is a canopy measuring approximately 4x4 m2. Judging from the main material which is made of wood and roofing material in the form of zinc, the canopy seems semi-permanent and is a newly added building (Figure 3).
Figure 2. From the entrance you can see the roof jutting forward in the form of a pyramid, a small tower and a canopy
Figure 3. Connection of the canopy roof with the roof of the main building
Because the convent building was originally a hospital, above the entrance there is a stained glass decoration that reads St. Jozef Zieken Huis (Dutch) which, if translated into Indonesian, becomes St. Jozef Hospital. Joseph (Picture 4).
Figure 4. Stained glass decoration above the entrance
The main entrance is located in the middle of the north side of the building. To the east of the main entrance one can see rows of blind windows which are the exterior of the formal living room, recreation room, dining room, sleeping room for sick sisters who cannot be hospitalized (Figure 5). Meanwhile, to the west of the main entrance you can see a row of upper windows (glass) and painted wooden blinds which are the exterior of the chapel, prayer room and office space (Figure 6).
Figure 5. Exterior on the east side of the main entrance
Figure 6. Exterior on the west side of the main entrance
Behind the main entrance there is a living room measuring 4 x 5 m2. The floor of the living room, as in all the rooms at the Sisters, is a 20 x 20 cm2 gray tile. The walls of the living room are painted in cream color and covered with light gray ceramic measuring 20 x 25 cm, 1.5 meters high (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Living Room
Figure 8. Statue of Saint Francis
Behind the living room is a small open space measuring 3 x 4 m2. In this room there is a bookshelf and also a statue of St. Francis as the Patron Saint of the OSF Sisters (Picture 8). From the living room you can directly see the garden which is located in the middle of the building with the Maria Cave as the center (Picture 9).
Figure 9. Garden with the Maria Cave as the center