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Dear Abraham,
Thanks for your question.
First, we have to distinguish between obligatory and non-obligatory fasting.
To my knowledge there are only two types of obligatory fasting the Church requires year-round.
- The pre-Holy Communion fast of one holy before receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord in the Eucharist, and
- the fasting that is required during the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as stated below:
Everyone 18 years old but not yet 60 is bound to the law of fasting.
Fasting means having only one full meal a day sufficient to maintain one's strength.
Two other meatless meals are allowed but are to be penitential and light.
The Church encourages non-obligatory fasting for purposes of penance, but would warn against "over doing it". If one wishes to take fasting seriously, they should do so under the guidance of a spiritual director, meaning a priest.
As to which fasting is recommended by the Vatican, on issues like these, the Vatican would always turn to the
local diocese for their opinion and guidance for reasons of country and culture.
You can find information for your diocese here:
Indonesia - Statistics by Diocese by Catholic Population
This related posting should help as well:
Hope this helps,
Mike
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