Rass with Alex and Spanish community in Auckland 250The Society of the Divine Word, popularly known as the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD), is celebrating 150 years of service in the Lord’s Vineyard with the theme ‘Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone’. It has grown from a humble foundation on September 8, 1875 in Steyl, the Netherlands to an international religious order of 6,000 priests, brothers serving in 79 countries.

In this context I thought of sharing some of my personal experience of being part of the SVD mission in New Zealand, with the SVD confreres with whom I worked and some of the insights I gained along the way, writes Fr Sunil Nagothu SVD.

Pentecost celebrations SSPS house Kew Melb 2025 Group 250The 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.

MOHMV 2025 logo 250The Divine Word Missionaries and Holy Spirit Sisters were well-represented at the Mission One Heart Many Voices conference in Sydney this month, with participants exploring the theme: Choosing Hope. Trust yourself to its leading.

Among the presenters at the conference was Bishop Tim Norton SVD, who led a workshop exploring the idea of being ‘Pilgrims of Hope in communities of diversity’, as well as being chief celebrant at the conference Mass and a panellist for a discussion forum.

There’s this story about the US Civil War when President Abraham Lincoln was being briefed by his generals on the state of the war.

ATiwi Islands Jubilee Reflection Niran Sisters parishioners 250s a Divine Word Missionary, it is my profound privilege to share the Good News of God wherever I am called, writes Fr Niran Veigas SVD. For nine years, I was blessed to proclaim the Gospel in Russia, answering the Lord’s invitation to be His instrument of love and hope. Following this, I embraced another calling—to serve the Aboriginal community in Australia.

For the past two years, I have had the honour of ministering to a remote Aboriginal community in the northernmost part of Australia. It has been a journey of grace and growth, where I feel truly blessed to bring the Good News of Christ to those who long for His presence. Witnessing their faith, resilience, and openness to the Gospel has deepened my own commitment to this sacred mission.

Students Summer Experience 2025 Khanh Nguyen fruitpicking 250The summer holiday period saw the SVD seminarians from Dorish Maru College in Melbourne swap the classroom for a range of practical and pastoral experiences - from parish placements to work experience in jobs as diverse as farm worker, handyman and restaurant hand.

Formator of Scholastics, Fr Linh Nguyen SVD, said the summer placements aimed to give the students pastoral and workforce experience, as well as deepen their cultural understanding and English language skills.

SVD Jubilee book launch Jan 2025 250The Society of the Divine Word has this month celebrated the feast days of its two SVD saints, St Arnold Janssen and St Joseph Freinademetz, with the occasions taking on special significance during the SVD’s 150th Jubilee Year.

The Australian Province of the Society of the Divine Word celebrated the feast days with special Masses and social gatherings of confreres, SSpS Sisters, parishioners, lay partners and partners in mission, while in Rome the day was marked by the release of a new book, entitled ‘Treasures of the Past and Experiences of the Present’.

Dorish Maru Thanksgiving Dinner 2024 2 250The SVD’s formation house, Dorish Maru College, in Melbourne invited a large group of friends and supporters to its annual ‘Thanksgiving’ celebration to express the gratitude of students and staff for all those who’ve given assistance to the students in their formation this year.

Dorish Maru Rector, Fr Elmer Ibarra SVD said the guest list ranged from the staff of the college to those who tutored the students in English, those who helped them gain their driver’s licence or hosted them in their families or on their farms during their summer break.

SVD Celebration 2 Rockhampton Central West 250

The Rockhampton Diocese's Central West cluster of parishes, under the care of Fr Van Bang Nguyen SVD, has celebrated the opening of the SVD's 150th anniversary celebrations.
 
The Diocesan Newsletter reported that the anniversary celebration included a procession of key symbols – a bible (for the Divine Word), a globe and the SVD banner (representing the entire world and the SVD priests and brothers who are currently ministering in 79 countries), and a candle (representing Christ’s light that they are guided by and try to share with others).

Thailand Opening of Jubilee Year and 25th anniversary 250The Thailand-Myanmar District celebrated the Jubilee Opening on September 28, as part of the District’s celebration of its Silver Jubilee in Thailand (1999-2024).

The celebration took place at St Michael Archangel Church in Nong Bua Lamphu Province, NE Thailand.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Society of the Divine Word, Australia Province, acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, sky, and community.

We acknowledge their skin-groups, story-lines, traditions, religiosity and living cultures.

We pay respect to their elders, past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all indigenous peoples of New Zealand, Thailand, and Myanmar.

We are committed to building with them, a brighter future together.