The past month or so has seen me involved in a number of large gatherings with people who are engaged in Christ’s mission in one way or another.

First there was the wonderful Mission: One heart, many voices conference in Sydney, followed by our SVD Provincial Chapter and just last week, the Catholic Religious Australia conference in Brisbane.

All of these gatherings have been challenging and inspiring, perhaps in equal measure.

Mission involves many challenges in this world we live in. I suspect it always has. In fact, Sr Carol Zinn SSJ said as much when she addressed the CRA conference and reminded us that: “If religious life doesn’t take us to Calvary, then we’re not living it”. It is a sobering thought, but also an inspiring one, because we all know that after death on Calvary came new, abundant, and eternal life.

Our Provincial Chapter revealed both the challenges and inspiration of living mission. The reports from our various districts revealed again the wealth of ministry and mission being lived out in the SVD AUS Province. It is, for me, always humbling to see how much good work is being carried out in big and small ways, for the love of Jesus, and for those who need to know His love, especially those living on the margins of our society.

Plenty of challenges emerged too, and it was good to be able to talk about these together and chart a way forward. You will read more about the Chapter and its outcomes later in this edition of ‘In the Word’.

In the end, in all of these mission-based gatherings of the last month or so, the inspiration always outweighs the challenges. To spend time with people, both religious and lay, who are so committed to reaching out in love to those they encounter in their ministry or work is to come away feeling renewed and freshly energised. It also helps to put our own work into a broader perspective and to be reminded once again that we are not alone. We are united in Christ and in our common humanity. And in that communion lies our true inspiration.

Yours in the Word,

Fr Henry Adler SVD,

Provincial.