Province strategic planning session puts synodality into practice
The Australia Province of the Divine Word Missionaries is putting Pope Francis’ call for a more synodal Church into action by engaging in a strategic planning session using the synodal methods of deep listening and dialogue.
The fruits of that strategic planning session, which involved the Provincial Council, some confreres, lay partners, benefactors and friends, will now be sent to all confreres at District level who will be asked to apply their own discernment and feedback, using the synodal methods.
Fr Prakash installed as Vicar-General of Darwin Diocese
Fr Prakash Menezes SVD, who is currently serving as Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish in Alice Springs, has been appointed by Darwin Bishop Charles Gauci to be Vicar-General of the Diocese.
Fr Prakash, who is from India, completed his SVD formation at Melbourne’s Dorish Maru College and was ordained by the former Bishop of Darwin, Bishop Eugene Hurley, in 2014, before being assigned as a missionary to Central Australia.
Advent a time for waiting, preparing and praying for peace
We are about to begin the season of Advent, a time of waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus Christ, both in the manger at Bethlehem and his second coming at the end of time.
As we look around our world at the serious situations of conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine and various other places, we know that we are more in need than ever of the coming of the Prince of Peace at Christmas.
'A Kairos Experience' - reflecting on being part of the Synod on Synodality
Attending this consultative Synod as one of the 38 small group facilitators is a great honour and privilege – an experience of a lifetime, a Kairos experience! “Come to us, O Holy Spirit” is the consistent cry holding the synodal journey from many languages, cultures and Christian traditions under the leadership of Pope Francis, writes Fr Asaeli Rass SVD.
I am thrilled to be part of Pope Francis' dream towards a synodal Catholic Church that walks, prays, discerns together in the Holy Spirit. This is subjective, and yet I could openly express in appreciation how the Spirit is gently and surely leading the Catholic Church to a better space in the history of salvation.
Qld District confreres gather together for fellowship, sharing, reflection
The SVD confreres of the Queensland District gathered together for a week of fellowship, sharing, prayer and reflection recently, with a program focusing not only on their present mission experiences, but also paying tribute to SVD pioneer missionaries.
The members of the District gathered in Brisbane from their parishes in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, the Diocese of Townsville and the Diocese of Rockhampton.
Canonisation of SVD saints remembered 20 years on
As the Church celebrates World Mission Month in October, the Society of the Divine Word celebrates the 20th anniversary of the canonisation of its two saints – Saint Arnold Janssen and Saint Joseph Freinademetz.
St Arnold founded the SVD in 1875 in Steyl, the Netherlands and went on to also establish two orders of Religious Sisters. St Joseph Freinademetz was one of the first two SVDs sent out on mission - to China. They were both canonised by Pope John Paul II on October 5, 2003, and on this anniversary, we share with you St John Paul’s homily from that occasion
Fr Boni gives thanks to God as he marks Silver Jubilee of ordination
Fr Boni Buahendri SVD this month marked the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with a multicultural Mass and celebration hosted by the parishioners of St Mark’s Parish, Inala in Queensland.
Fr Boni said the celebration was a time to give thanks to God for his missionary vocation and to all the people he has journeyed with along the way.
Migration, human rights, environment - key priorities for new JPIC Coordinator
Missionaries are well known for their willingness to live and serve in a variety of countries, and none more so than Fr Jun Perez SVD, who has arrived in Australia after missionary assignments which have taken him from Russia to Africa, South Korea and Thailand.
“You know the old saying,” he laughs. “Join the SVD and see the world!”
Mission Day explores ways to be faithful & creative disciples in a wounded world
The annual SVD Mission Day in Melbourne has been hailed a big success, attracting more than 300 people who gathered to explore the theme: “Your Light Must Shine Before Others: Faithful and Creative Discipleship in a Wounded World”.
The guest speaker was Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv and the Response was given by Anglican priest and theologian, Rev. Dorothy Lee of Trinity College, the University of Divinity, with the discussion moderated by Sr Patricia Fox NDS.
Ecological conversion at the heart of our faith - reflection
“The Whanganui river in New Zealand is the first river in the world to be recognised as an indivisible and living being, after being granted personhood in 2017. It has been granted the same legal rights as a human being.”
No doubt this sounds very strange to us, but a couple of weeks ago I started reading a book by the late Fr. Denis Edwards called: “Ecology at the heart of faith” published in 2006. I highly recommend reading it and meditating on the various sections, reflects Fr Nick de Groot SVD.