By Gusty Siga SVD
The Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) are celebrating the Jubilee Year of 150 years under the theme "Witnessing the Light from Everywhere to Everyone". In line with this, I as an SVD student in the Australia Province want to use this opportunity to reflect on my journey as a seminarian in the SVD and highlight how important formation is in the Divine Word Missionaryes to help the seminarians grow and be ready for their future mission, since the mission of the SVD is rooted in the call to spread the light of Christ universally, across cultural, social, and religious boundaries.
I have been part of SVD formation for these last eight years (half in Indonesia and half in Australia). I personally believe that the Divine Word Missionary formation is crucial to my preparation as a future missionary. It shapes me spiritually, intellectually, and personally, enabling me to be a true witness to the light of Christ. This formation process is not just about acquiring knowledge or skills, but about becoming a living witness to the light—someone who can carry the Gospel to “everyone, everywhere”. As I continue my journey, I am deeply grateful for the SVD formation and the way it helps me grow into the missionary life God has called me to.
Embracing Interculturality
One of the primary characteristics of the Divine Word Missionaries is their intercultural ministry approach. As a student preparing for missionary service, the SVD's diversity and commitment to intercultural living provides a strong witness. Interculturality will become increasingly important in the future as the world becomes more interconnected. Pope Francis constantly calls on the Church to serve as a "field hospital" for people on the edges, and the SVD's multicultural communities have the opportunity to respond. Understanding and respecting diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, as well as living testimony to the universality of Christ's love, allows them to transcend divisions.
SVD formation introduces me to a vibrant, intercultural community, reflecting the diversity of God’s creation. Living with seminarians from various cultural backgrounds has helped me appreciate that witnessing the light of Christ means embracing diversity and learning to work in harmony with others. This experience mirrors the mission of the Divine Word Missionaries, where intercultural living is an essential aspect of our witness to the Gospel. This formation challenges me to grow in humility, openness, and adaptability, which are all crucial for the mission field, where understanding different cultural contexts is key to effective evangelisation.
Deepening my Personal, Spiritual, Theological Understanding and Missionary Spirit
The formation provides me with the tools to deepen my relationship with Christ and to grow in my theological knowledge. Regular spiritual exercises such as prayer, meditation, and the Eucharist help me connect with Christ, the true light that I am called to witness. Furthermore, the theological education I receive enriches my understanding of the faith and equips me to explain and defend it in various contexts. This intellectual and spiritual growth forms the foundation of my future missionary work, helping me be a more effective witness to God’s light.
I am constantly called to examine myself, my motivations, and my vocation. It offers me opportunities for personal growth, challenging me to confront my weaknesses and allowing God's grace to transform me. In doing so, I am being prepared to not only witness Christ's light but to become that light for others. This process of transformation is integral to my future mission, as I must embody the message I am proclaiming, living out the values of the Gospel in my interactions with others.
One of the core values that the SVD formation instills in me is the missionary spirit. The formation emphasises that being a missionary is not just about preaching or doing social work; it is about living the Gospel every day, in every context, and with every person. This missionary spirit calls me to go beyond myself, to serve others, and to bring the light of Christ to the peripheries of society, whether they be geographical, social, or spiritual. The formation helps cultivate this spirit through its emphasis on service, community living, and pastoral experiences.
Witnessing in Marginalised society, Ecological Awareness and Digital Mission
As a student, it is important to understand that the future mission of the SVD will continue to emphasise service to those on the margins of society—whether it be the poor, refugees, indigenous peoples, or those who are excluded because of racial or ethnic discrimination. The theme of "witnessing to the light" calls us to be present in these communities, offering solidarity and hope through both word and action. As future missionaries, the students are being prepared to advocate for justice, peace, and the dignity of all people, particularly in settings of poverty and oppression. Our response to human suffering and injustice will be critical in showing that the Gospel of Christ is alive and relevant today.
Another key aspect of the future mission is the Church’s growing focus on ecological justice, as emphasised in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si. The Divine Word Missionaries, as caretakers of creation, must witness to the light by advocating for the protection of the environment and supporting sustainable living, particularly in communities affected by environmental degradation. As a student, reflecting on how our mission can contribute to environmental stewardship involves understanding how the Gospel message calls us to care for God’s creation. In mission contexts, this could mean educating communities on ecological practices, advocating for climate justice, or simply living out a lifestyle that reflects respect for the Earth and its resources.
In the contemporary context, technology has reshaped communication, including how the Gospel is shared. The future mission of the Divine Word Missionaries will increasingly involve digital evangelisation—reaching people through social media, online platforms, and digital communities. As a student, it is crucial to develop the skills to engage and communicate meaningfully in this digital mission space, where many people, especially younger generations, encounter their ideas and form their beliefs.
Preparing for Contemporary Missionary Challenges
In many countries, particularly in the West, the problem of secularisation is significant. It is critical for a missionary to understand how to share the light of Christ in a world that is more disinterested in religion. Witnessing the light in secularised countries requires practicing a genuine Christian life that appeals to people by personal example, dialogue, and acts of justice and mercy rather than outright proselytising.
In pluralistic societies, the challenge is to respect religious differences while remaining firm in one's Christian identity. The Divine Word Missionaries have a strong tradition of dialogue, particularly in the context of interfaith relations. Future missionaries will need to engage in meaningful dialogue with people of other faiths, seeking common ground while also sharing the distinctive hope found in Christ. The future mission will involve more dialogue with secularists, non-religious persons, and people of other faiths, all while embodying the light of Christ in one’s actions.
Facing this issue, I realise that the SVD formation is preparing me to face the challenges of mission in the contemporary world. As society becomes more secularised and pluralistic, the role of a missionary becomes more complex. However, the SVD formation equips me with the skills and resilience needed to navigate these challenges. By engaging with current social issues, digital evangelisation, and interreligious dialogue, I am being prepared to witness Christ’s light in a way that is relevant and meaningful to modern society.
To conclude, as a student preparing for missionary work in the contemporary context, I firmly believe that the formation process involves not only deepening my theological knowledge but also fostering an openness to intercultural dialogue, learning from others, and embracing new contexts of mission. Ultimately, the theme "Witnessing to the Light from Everywhere to Everyone" reminds me that the Gospel of Christ transcends boundaries. As a future missionary, my task is to carry this light, showing the world that it shines in every culture, language, and context, for the salvation and dignity of all people.
PHOTO: SVD seminarian Gusty Siga is pictured taking part in the Clinical Pastoral Education program, a part of his formation as a Divine Word Missionary.