Among the new missionary students to arrive in Australia for the start of the academic year are two young men from Mexico.
Neftali Velasco Fabian and Ruben Aguirre have travelled across the world to continue their SVD formation and academic studies with the AUS Province at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne.
Neftali was born in Santiago Lalopa, a small town of only about 500 people in the mountains of Oaxaca, in the south of Mexico, which is served by SVD priests who live in nearby San Juan Yaee.
“My parents and two sisters are active members of the parish and my mother is a catechist in the community,” Neftali says. “My father is in music ministry, and he taught me how to play the guitar when I was a child.”
After high school, Neftali moved to Oaxaca City to continue his studies at the ‘Escuela Prepartoria de la Santa Cruz’, during which time he also experienced life in the Minor Seminary for three years.
“After that, I chose the missionary way, because I felt motivated by the SVD missionaries who worked in my home parish,” he says.
“So, I moved to San Juanito parish to start my SVD formation. After that, I studied philosophy in Guadalajara City and last year I finished by Novitiate time in Oaxaca City.
Neftali says the main things that attracted him to SVD life were the multiculturalism in the communities and the opportunity to work with people in need.
“I felt motivated also when I joined Fr Sonny SVD, my parish priest, doing differing activities with the people and enjoying it, especially the music.”
He says he is happy to be in Australia and beginning a new experience at Dorish Maru College.
“The English academic study is hard, but I enjoy it. I have new partners, a new house, a new life-style and a new purpose in life.”
Ruben hails from a small town in the mountains of Mexico in the state of Michoacan.
“My family is a big family – I am one of seven brothers,” he says.
Ruben says he grew up in a devout Catholic family and received a traditional Catholic education.
“I entered the Divine Word Missionaries when I was 20 years old, because I like the way of life, given to the mission with the poor,” he says.
“Now, in Australia, I have felt excited and surprised with the new culture and I hope to quickly learn the new language to be able to continue with my formation.”
Both Ruben and Neftali, along with the other newly arrived students, Shouzheng Wang and Cuong Quoc Daqng, are doing English language studies at Deakin University before beginning their theological academic program.
PHOTOS
TOP RIGHT: Neftali Velasco Fabian
BOTTOM LEFT: Ruben Aguirre