Blessed John Henry Newman famously said, “To live is to change and to be perfect is to change often”, and I think every missionary would recognise the truth in that.

As missionaries we are frequently asked to move to new ministries and take up new challenges, all of which require us to change. But we are not called to change for change’s sake. Rather we are called to respond to the promptings of the Spirit as we respond to need.

So far this year, the AUS Province of the Society of the Divine Word has made substantial changes to our ministry in the Darwin Diocese and in Queensland. Fr Jan Szweda SVD, has moved from Alice Springs to Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land, to be parish priest for the people there and Fr Asaeli Raass has been recently installed as the new Parish Priest at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart parish in Alice Springs. We pray for God’s blessing on them both in their new ministries. In Queensland, we have withdrawn from our Hamilton house to respond to new and growing needs in south Queensland and our confreres from Hamilton will take up new retirement accommodation. Our confreres in Rockhampton Diocese will also undertake new ministries. And in Thailand, we are working to expand our mission in response to the needs of the local church there.

All of this change and it’s still only February!

So, perhaps Cardinal Newman’s observation could be rephrased for missionary life: To live is to change and to be missionary is to change often!

In preparation for our Provincial Chapter meeting in June, our local Districts have been holding their Local Chapter meetings. It has been my privilege to listen to all that they are doing in their District and to be with them as they identify where the Spirit might be leading them in the next few years.

One area we know will be front and centre as we work on our priorities for the next three years, is to build on the wonderful relationships we have with our lay partners in mission. In this Year of Consecrated Life we are more aware than ever that our consecrated life only makes full sense in light of our relationships with all of God’s people. We will be looking for new and different ways of promoting friendship and collaboration in our living out of mission.

Of course, Christ’s mission itself never changes. It is constant and true. As each one of us continues to live out that mission in our own time and place, may we always remain open to the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit. Only God knows where it will lead us.