SVD seminarians at Melbourne’s Dorish Maru College swapped their academic books for some ‘on the ground’ experience over the summer break, with some spending time in parishes, while others undertook work or clinical pastoral experience, lived with a local family, or headed home on leave.

The students, who come from a range of different countries, said the hands-on experiences of pastoral and working life in Australia had a big impact on their formation to become missionary priests.

Reflecting on my journey as a Divine Word Missionary, I do so in the spirit of ongoing formation that lies at the heart of the Society of the Divine Word. My life and vocation have unfolded across diverse contexts—Vietnam under communism, migration to Australia, formation within SVD communities, mission experience in the Amazon, and pastoral ministry on Palm Island.

Each stage has become a formative space where the Word of God, mission, and community have shaped one’s identity. Throughout this journey, three attitudes have consistently sustained my vocation: hope, humility, and humour.

Fr Paul Dogba SVD’s recent arrival at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne has fulfilled a long-held desire to work in the SVD Australia Province.

Fr Paul, who is from Ghana, has been assigned to work in theological formation in the AUS Province, teaching theology, missiology and homiletics at Yarra Theological Union.

Happy New Year to all! I am delighted to be here sharing my first Provincial’s Message for our ‘In the Word’ e-news publication since my appointment took effect on January 1.

Having spent the last several years as parish priest of St Mark’s Parish, Inala, in Brisbane, and before that, being assigned to formation ministry at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne, I am aware that my first task in these early days as Provincial, is to listen and learn as I make my way around the Province.

Two young men from Vietnam have made their first profession of vows in the Society of the Divine Word following their postulancy in Thailand and a year-long novitiate in the Philippines.

Hung Dinh Nguyen and Joseph Pham Van Thong joined the SVD Australia Province in Thailand and will now prepare to undertake their seminary studies and formation with the SVD Australia Province at Dorish Maru College in Melbourne.

The SVD Australia Province rang out with joy this month when Peter Wang SVD was ordained to the priesthood in Melbourne in a celebration filled with faith, culture, love, family and mission.

Peter, who was born and raised in China, was ordained by Broome Bishop Tim Norton SVD, in a Mass marked by poignant moments, including Peter being clothed in his priestly vestments by his parents and his brother Andrew, also an SVD priest, and the inspiration for Peter’s vocation.

Fr Ennio Mantovani SVD has been remembered as a dedicated missionary priest whose life and ministry touched the hearts of many, especially through his years of committed service in Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Fr Ennio returned peacefully to the Lord on October 18 in Sydney, Australia and his Requiem Mass took place on Tuesday, October 28 at the St Arnold Janssen Chapel in Marsfield.

As we celebrated World Mission Month in October, under Pope Francis’s theme: ‘Missionaries of Hope Among all Peoples’, the SVD Australia Province came together in Melbourne for the triiennial Provincial Assembly, and it truly was a time of Missionary Hope.

With my term as Provincial drawing to a close, along with our 150^th Jubilee Year celebrations, I came away from the Assembly with a grateful heart.