Abstract

The objective of this article is to illustrate the application of social entrepreneurial orientation (SEO) in the Catholic mission in Indonesia, drawing upon Church documents, the historical accounts of the initial missionaries in Java, and the working of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Indonesia (PMSI). The present investigation utilized qualitative research methods and adopted a comprehensive approach that incorporated action, phenomenology, and narrative research. The PMSI is a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Catholic Church that conducts its operations in thirty-seven dioceses in Indonesia. The PMSI has been actively involved in its purpose for more than a century. This research highlights the utilization of social entrepreneurial techniques by missionaries in their missions. This is achieved through an examination of the SEO guiding framework documented in Church literature, an investigation into the experiences of early missionaries in Java, and the conduct of in-depth interviews with directors of the PMSI. This study provides a theoretical contribution to the field of the use of SEO in religious nonprofit organizations, while also offering significant information and insights for managers in similar nonprofit organizations. It serves as a means of connecting prior research with the practical application of the Catholic Church’s mission.