A Maryknoll priest and volunteers work with the Asmat indigenous people in Indonesia Story and photos by Joshua Ever since his arrival 40 years ago among the Asmat people of West Papua, Indonesia, Maryknoll Father Vincent Cole has had a clear mission to these indigenous people. “My job as a missioner is to promote a critical appreciation of their own culture in the light of Gospel values,” he says. “It all starts with our fascination with the Asmat.” That means admiring their strength rather than trying to fix their weaknesses. Integrating Catholicism with Asmat spirituality has been Father Vince’s approach since he stepped foot on the swampy land of the Asmat on the western side of the...
