Frans van Lith [SEP] country of citizenship
Frans van Lith
Franciscus Georgius Josephus van Lith, SJ or often called Frans van Lith or affectionately Romo van Lith (Javanese:"Father van Lith"), born 17 May 1863 - died 9 January 1926; was a Jesuit priest from Oirschot, Netherlands who pioneered the Catholic mission in Java, especially Central Java.
He baptized the first Javanese at Sendangsono, founded a school for teachers in Muntilan, and fought for the education of Javanese people during the Dutch colonial rule.
He was renowned because of his ability to synchronize
such as Kasimo, Frans Seda, amongst others.
In Klaten, van Lith tried to establish a "Hollands Inlandse School" (HIS, a primary school for Indonesian children).. Initially the effort did not receive the permission of the Assistant Resident, because in Klaten there was already a Protestant HIS. Because of the refusal, Father van Lith proposed directly to the Resident of Surakarta (Solo). His proposal was accepted, and in 1920 HIS Kanisius Klaten was established and education activities started.
Van Lith fought