A significant milestone for the people of Central Australia will be celebrated this Sunday with the launch of the Bible translated into the local Arrernte language – a project which has taken more than 30 years to come to fruition.

The ‘Angkentye Mwerre’ Eastern and Central Arrernte Shorter Bible will be launched by the local Aboriginal people of Santa Teresa and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Alice Springs, in a special Mass on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday in NAIDOC Week.

The SVD AUS Province is preparing to send a team of missionaries to Myanmar by the beginning of next year to establish a brand new Divine Word Missionary presence in the South-East Asian nation.

Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD, who has recently returned from visiting Myanmar, says that Cardinal Charles Bo invited the SVD into his diocese of Yangon to pursue Bible ministry there.

On the matter of providing safe harbour and unconditional welcome for refugees, migrants and the stranger, all four Evangelists agree: “Whoever receives such little ones in my name, receives me.” (Mk 9:37; Mt 18:5; Lk 9:48; Jn 13:20). The Synoptic Gospels also remind us of the woes that may befall any whose actions initiate war, destroy families and create refugees: “It would be better for them to have a great millstone tied around their necks and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Mk 9:42; Mt 18:6; Lk 17:2).

The use of ‘little ones’ as a category of persons helps us to understand that the refugee is someone who is often marginalised, often vulnerable, often powerless. The combination of all these factors means that they are always deserving of our compassion and concern.

One of the great blessings of the SVD across the world and in the AUS Province is the presence of its young members, and recently, those confreres who have been in the AUS Province for five years or less, got together for some ongoing formation.

“It was a time to come together and share our story of our ministry in our respective fields,” says one of the participants, Fr Kommareddy Rajasekhar Reddy SVD (Raja). “We were given an opportunity to share our joys and challenges in ministry.”

The first results from the latest Census have been released this week and they confirm that here in Australia, we are living in an increasingly diverse religious and cultural society.

The Census showed two key things that were already somewhat obvious to anybody who’s been paying attention to such things – the number of people identifying as being of ‘no religion’ has risen and the nation is becoming increasingly multicultural. What meaning can we take from this?

Fr Alejandro Jose De la Sotta Dominguez SVD is a long way from his home in Chile, but says the “incredible diversity of cultures” that he’s found at St Mark’s Parish, Inala is enriching his life, his faith and his ministry.

Fr Alejandro, who is relatively new to the AUS Province, is Acting Parish Priest at St Mark’s while Fr Stephen Pilly SVD enjoys his home leave in India.

The Divine Word Missionaries AUS Province is reaching out further into the digital world with a new-look website and the launch of an App designed to deliver Mission news right to your phone or other mobile device.

With one touch, the free App provides news, scripture reflections, calendar events and more – perfect for keeping in touch with SVD Mission wherever you are. 
Speaking at the launch of the App, Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD said it was another step from the Province to “make social communications and media part of our life and involve them in Mission”.

I did not keep my trust in angels, and their gifts of love and help, as often as I should've - until I came across one in my real life.

It was October 18, 2016, as I was on my return journey to Mumbai after a brisk home visit before I flew to Australia, that, through the providence of God, I found this angel in the form of a family friend, to whom I was introduced a couple of months previously by another priest-friend who I also met by chance.

The 2018 Provincial Assembly and Chapter of the SVD AUS Province was officially convoked this month and preparations are well underway for this important event which will help set the missionary priorities of the Province for the years to come.

Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD, convoked the Assembly and Chapter in a letter to all confreres, setting the Assembly down to begin on Monday, February 19 and the Chapter to begin on Wednesday February 21.

Migration is changing the face of Christianity and Church communities must embrace this change or risk fading away, says visiting Biblical Scholar, Fr vanThanh Nguyen SVD.

Fr vanThanh, who is Professor of New Testament Studies and holds the Bishop Francis Ford Chair of Catholic Missiology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, was in Australia this month giving a series of lectures for BBI – The Australian Institute of Theological Education.