Internationality, or interculturality, is an essential element of the SVD charism, and a principal goal of mission should be the promotion of a truly multicultural Church, says former SVD Superior General, Fr Antonio Pernia.

Fr Antonio (Tony) made these points when addressing the SVD AUS Provincial Chapter held in Sydney this month.

The 2015 Provincial Chapter affirmed and confirmed the Province’s commitment to its current mission priorities, as well as a desire to strengthen and further enrich SVD community life.

AUS Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD, says the Chapter also highlighted a growing sensitivity and commitment towards living interculturally, both within the Society and in its outward mission.

There will be times where we don’t get along, and perhaps there will be times where we’re at each other’s throat. Yet, there will always be times where we come together. The SVD community in Thailand brings together men from different countries, backgrounds, and cultures.

From the mountains of Papua New Guinea to the East and West coasts of the United States to the desert of Australia to the islands of Indonesia and to the rice fields of Vietnam, we are rich in diversity

Dorish Maru College in Melbourne is well known as the SVD seminary and formation house for the AUS Province, but it is also a house of welcome for other missionaries who are undertaking further studies, or language studies to help them in mission assignments to a range of countries.

Rector of the House at Dorish Maru, Fr Michael Hardie SVD, says this hospitality and support is one way the AUS Province helps support the wider world of Mission.

It was a joyous occasion in Thailand recently when members of the SVD Thai District joined Bishop Joseph Luechai Thatwisai of Udon Thani Diocese to celebrate the restoration of the Thai Martyrs church in Thuan Kham.

After 10 years of neglect, without a priest, Fr Vinh The Tran SVD, who is pastor at a larger parish in the Ban Dung area took an interest in bringing the sacraments back to the almost 60 families who had been active parishioners at the little church.

Fr Liam Horsfall SVD has been farewelled from his longstanding chaplaincy duties at St Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe and Mercy Aged Care, Nudgee, with warm tributes and thanksgiving from both communities.

Fr Liam, who is 89 this year, has been chaplain for the two communities for 20 years, but some current health challenges have prompted him to ease back on his regular commitments.

The Divine Word Missionaries have a long history of chaplaincy for migrant communities, and some of the confreres involved with chaplaincy ministry came together recently to explore how the AUS Province can continue to best meet the growing needs of these communities.

Provincial, Fr Henry Adler SVD, says the meeting of chaplains aimed to look at what was already being done and to consider possibilities for the future.

The first instalment of funds has made its way from the SVD AUS Province to cyclone-devastated Vanuatu and is already making a difference to the lives of the local people who have lost so much.

Mission Secretary, Fr Truc Quoc Phan SVD, was accompanied to Port Vila by Fr Olivier Noclam SVD, who is from Vanuatu, and then made his way to outlying Tanna Island, which was one of the areas worst hit by Cyclone Pam in March.

Renowned missiologist, academic and speaker, Fr Stephen Bevans svd will return to Australia in May as a keynote speaker at the ‘Mission: one heart many voices 2015’ conference in Sydney.

Fr Stephen is the Louis J. Luzbetak svd, Professor of Mission and Culture at Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union and a renowned teacher and author on Mission. As an SVD missionary he worked for nine years (1972-1981) in The Philippines. He was a popular presenter at the inaugural ‘Mission: one heart many voices’ gathering two years ago.

Former AUS Provincial, Fr Tim Norton SVD, returned to Australia recently to lead a series of workshops on interculturality.

Fr Tim, who is now based at the SVD retreat house at Nemi, outside Rome, has been in Indonesia for the past three months, learning the Indonesian language. While in ‘the neighbourhood’, he returned to Australia to share his knowledge and experience on intercultural living and ministry.