The Feast of Pentecost was a Spirit-filled celebration across the SVD Australia Province, with some parishes celebrating Confirmations and a number of communities gathering with the Holy Spirit Sisters to mark the feast day.

St Arnold Janssen who founded the Divine Word Missionaries, the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, had a special devotion to the Holy Trinity and his spirituality was deeply rooted in his devotion to the Holy Spirit, who he saw as being essential for the Church's mission and the transformation of hearts.

Among the different doctrines of our faith, nothing is more mysterious than the dogma of the Trinity. Simply put, we have one God but in three distinct persons. It doesn’t mean that we have three gods but it also doesn’t mean that we have a God who is alone.

It is a moment of extreme Joy as Christians that we commemorate the Pentecost after 50 days of Easter, as the fulfilment of Jesus’ Mission on earth.

A lot of people may be asking, "Look at our world right now – where is the Peace? And where is God?" It's a fair question. When we turn on the TV and watch the news, we see war, conflict, division, and suffering in many countries.

Let me start with a story that I read from an article by a good friend of mine, Fr Atilano Corcuera, SVD. A contractor was asked to make a building for homeless blind people.

This week I departed for Rome to take part in the Synod of Bishops on Synodality.

I have been appointed by Pope Francis to be a small group facilitator during the Synod discussions, and while I am certainly aware of the enormity of the task ahead, I am also honoured and excited to be a part of it.

On the Mount of Olives, just outside of Jerusalem, there is a small mosque. In the centre of this Muslim house of prayer is a flat rock a metre or so in diameter. In the centre of this rock are two foot-shaped indentations.

We have a belief that if you love someone, you’re willing to do everything for him or for her. In the gospel for this Sunday, Jesus is challenging all of us that if we really love him then we must obey his commandments.

Happy New Year! And welcome to the first edition of In the Word for 2023.

As you receive this Enews, I am in Fiji preparing to facilitate the meeting of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania. It is a crucial meeting for the bishops of our region and will cover many things, including the preparations for Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality. I ask for your prayers for the bishops’ discernment and also for me as I facilitate the meeting with the help of secretariat staff.

A few years ago I talked to my cousin from the United States over the phone and we chatted for quite a while, and, while I know that she knows me, somehow in her voice she seemed a little bit bewildered.